Local 830 City of Norwalk Firefighters responded to a structure fire on the evening of December 4th, at 17:35hrs.

The fire was located at 15 Forbell Dr.
Initial reports stated the home was filling with smoke and there was a wheelchair bound elderly resident who could not exit.

Upon arrival, the first arriving companies from the Broad River River Fire Station, Engine 1 and Truck 1 encountered heavy smoke coming from the front door with fire venting out of the kitchen windows at the rear of the structure.

The Captain of Truck 1, along with the Can-man from Truck 1, entered via the front door where they found two occupants unable to exit. One was lying on the floor, the other on a couch. Both were removed and brought outside to arriving Norwalk Hospital EMS units. Two other occupants had exited the residence prior to the fire departments arrival.

Simultaneously, a handline was stretched to the kitchen area by Engine 1 where firefighters encountered and extinguished a kitchen fire which was starting to extend to the front of the residence. Additional firefighters made their way to the 2nd floor to conduct a primary search while a backup handline was being stretched, the building laddered, and the residence ventilated.

The fire was extinguished in 30 minutes by a 1st alarm assignment consisting of 3 Engines, 2 Ladder Trucks, 1 Heavy Rescue, and a command vehicle for a total of 25 Norwalk Professional Firefighters.

Currently, there are four occupants displaced by the fire. All four were initially transported to Norwalk Hospital. Three with smoke inhalation, and one for an evaluation. At this time, the three with smoke inhalation, have been transported to the Bridgeport Hospital Burn Unit for further evaluation. The status of their condition is unknown. There were no injuries to any firefighters. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Norwalk Fire Marshals Division.

Engine Co. 3 and Engine Co. 5 covered the rest of the city during this incident.