By Elio Gugliotti, Editor
NAUGATUCK — A fire Sunday afternoon displaced seven people from their home on Nettleton Avenue.
Firefighters responded to a structure fire at 61 Nettleton Ave. at about 3:41 p.m., Deputy Fire Chief James Trzaski said. When they arrived four minutes later, Trzaski said there was heavy smoke coming out of the single-family home.
Trzaski said the fire was in the kitchen area on the first floor. As the first firefighters on the scene put out the fire, other firefighters searched the home to see if anyone was inside. He said no one was home at the time.
Trzaski said a neighbor, who went into the house, suffered smoke inhalation while trying to put out the fire with an extinguisher. The neighbor was treated on scene by Naugatuck Ambulance, he said.
Trzaski said firefighters put out the fire in about five minutes and had it under control within 20 minutes.
The cause is under investigation.
The house sustained fire damage to the first floor and heat and smoke damage throughout the rest of the home, Trzaski said. The fire displaced two adults, their five children and a dog, he said.
According to borough records, the home is owned by George and Helen Northrup.
Trzaski said the home is uninhabitable, but the damage could have been worse if not for neighbors spotting the fire early and calling 911.
“It really minimized the amount of damage caused by the fire,” he said.
Waterbury Fire Department provided mutual aid. Naugatuck firefighters got the fire under control as Waterbury firefighters were responding and they were diverted to other calls for service, Trzaski said. Naugatuck Fire Police and police assisted with traffic control.
