Around 11:30am on Friday Fire Dept, GEMS and police responded to a fire downtown toward the top of Greenwich Avenue. The top of the Avenue was closed to vehicular traffic and Putnam Ave was closed from top of Mason Street to Greenwich Library.
Greenwich Fire Dept posted on Facebook around 12:30 that the fire was in the rear of a building on Greenwich Avenue. They asked people to use caution in the area.
From Greenwich Fire Dept chief Joseph McHugh, 8:48pm May 19:
On Friday evening Greenwich Fire Dept chief Joseph McHugh gave an update on the fire that broke out at the top of Greenwich Avenue earlier in the day.
He said the Fire Dept had been dispatched at 11:35am in response to a report of a structure fire in the area of West Putnam Ave and Greenwich Ave.
Multiple 911 calls reported a fire from 24-28 Greenwich Ave.
Chief McHugh said crews arrived within minutes and located a fast moving fire in the rear of the structure.
“Members quickly deployed hose lines and searched for any occupants within the structures. All occupants evacuated safely and crews worked for less than an hour to bring the fire under control,” he said.
Firefighters remained on scene with the Fire Marshal to determine a cause for a fire, which is still under investigation.
Damage was contained to the rear decking and roof. One firefighter suffered a minor injury.
From Greenwich Police DC Mark Zuccerella, 1:18pm.
“The fire call on Greenwich Avenue is ending. The call came in as a reported fire on the 3rd floor of 24 Greenwich Avenue. Greenwich Fire, Greenwich Emergency Medical, and Greenwich Police were detailed to the area.
While the units were in route a Police Officer on foot was nearby and was able to assist getting some people out of the building. There was heavy smoke in the building and area. GFD arrived on scene and was quickly able to control the fire and knock it down. GPD closed off the area to provide a safe area for GFD to operate. Putnam Ave as closed at Deerfield and Lafayette Place, as was the upper portion of Greenwich Avenue.
The Officer who entered the building was taken to Greenwich Hospital for smoke inhalation. The Officer was seen by the Emergency Department Staff and will be fine.
Currently, one lane of eastbound and westbound traffic is open on E/W Putnam Avenue and Greenwich Av is also open for travel. Area will be completely open later this afternoon. “
This story will be updated when more information is available.
