Overnight Car Accident Leads To House Fire
Sterling, Conn. - During the early Sunday morning hours, a car struck a pole in front of a home likely starting a fire within that home.
At approximately 1:17 a.m. on Sunday, October 22nd, 2023, the Sterling Fire Department was dispatched to a reported non-injury car versus pole motor vehicle accident in front of 600 Margaret Henry Rd. While en route, units were informed that the 600 Margaret Henry Rd homeowner smelled smoke within their residence but did not see any active fire.
Upon arrival, units found a pole down across the roadway with wires to the nearby residence damaged. A portion of the assignment secured the roadway and began handling the motor vehicle accident while other units investigated the reports of smoke inside the residence.
Interior crews discovered smoke in the basement but could not immediately find the source, or any active fire.
A short time later it was discovered that there was an active fire within the walls of the home, likely originating at the power inlet from the road. A 1st alarm assignment was immediately struck, and this incident transitioned from a vehicle accident to a working structure fire.
Due to the roadway being blocked by the accident, all units had to access the scene from the south severely limiting any decisions the command would need to make regarding water supply. The best practice is typically to establish two water supplies in different directions from the scene utilizing separate water sources in case one should fail. Units on the scene were able to extinguish the fire without the water supply becoming a large issue.
With the fire being of an electrical nature, crews were not able to open the walls and put water directly on the fire until Eversource arrived and secured the power. Instead of delaying firefighting operations, the decision was made for Eversource to remotely shut off power to the area, leaving hundreds in the dark but allowing crews to immediately engage the fire.
The incident was placed under control approximately 40 minutes after the 1st alarm upgrade, and approximately 1.5 hours after the time of the original call.
It is currently unclear if there were any injuries as a result of this incident.
Agencies that responded, or were dispatched, included: the Sterling Fire/Rescue, Oneco Fire Department, South Killingly Fire Department, Atwood Hose Fire Company, Moosup Fire Department, Danielson Fire Department, Plainfield Fire Co. #1, and American Legion Ambulance.