Stamford, CT – A massive fire ripped through an auto body shop in Stamford, Connecticut, night of Thursday, Feb. 13, sending thick smoke billowing into the sky and forcing firefighters to retreat as the building’s roof collapsed.
The Stamford Fire Department (SFD) received a 911 emergency call at 8:55 p.m., reporting heavy smoke near 87 Wardwell St. When Engine 4 arrived three minutes later, crews found the source of the smoke further north.
According to the fire department, additional fire crews diverted to Halloween Blvd, where they discovered an auto repair shop fire raging at the corner of St. Mary’s Street.
Flames were already visible through the windows, and thick black smoke was pouring from the roofline.
Firefighters had to cut through fencing surrounding the property before forcing their way through metal garage doors to gain entry.
Inside, they encountered intense flames in a congested workspace, making fire suppression efforts difficult, the fire department stated in a press release.
As the fire intensified, it burned through the roof, prompting the Incident Commander to escalate the response to a second alarm fire, calling in additional firefighting units.
When a section of the roof collapsed, firefighters were ordered to evacuate, and the strategy shifted to a defensive attack.
The fire department also stated that tower ladder master streams and portable master streams were deployed to contain the blaze, bringing it under control in two hours, with final fire extinguishment taking an additional hour.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Stamford Fire Marshal’s Office and the State of Connecticut Fire Marshal’s Office.
Fire crews will remain on the scene overnight to monitor for hot spots and potential fire reignition, particularly in areas where the roof collapsed.
The two-alarm fire response involved approximately 50 firefighters, including six engine companies, two tower ladder companies, one rescue company, two command units, and two safety officers.
Stamford EMS and Stamford Police Department were also on-site.
No firefighter injuries or civilian injuries were reported.
For more details on this Stamford structure fire, contact Deputy Fire Chief John Pritchard at (203) 977-5600.
