Three Buildings Destroyed As Fire Follows Gas Blast
District Chief
A natural gas explosion that occurred while gas company employees were working in an adjacent excavation caused a fire that destroyed three wood-frame buildings in Greenwich, Conn.
The first of several calls reporting an explosion and fire at the Pilsudski Society Clubhouse at 67 Arch Street was received at the Greenwich Central Station watchroom at 2:31 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, 1977. Engines 11 and 12 and Ladders 1 and 10, manned by the Amogerone and the Volunteer Hose and Chemical Companies, and Fire Patrol 1 responded from the Central Station under the command of Deputy Chief William J. Paffido, as the chief and two district chiefs were attending a state fire officers conference 80 miles away.
Upon the arrival of the first companies at 2:34 p.m., the second and third floors of the Polish club were fully involved in fire and fire fighters and policemen began search and rescue operations. They removed three persons from the fire building as well as others from an adjacent four-story apartment house.
Eighteen persons were injured, including three employees of the Connecticut Natural Gas Company, who had been in the excavation outside the clubhouse.
More units called
Upon his arrival, Paffido called for Engine 22 from Cos Cob, Engine 31 from East Port Chester, and Engine 61 from Round Hill, all volunteer departments in the Town of Greenwich. Later calls brought Ladder 3 from East Port Chester and Engine 52 and Ladder 5 from Sound Beach, also in Greenwich. The Glenville Fire Company, in the northwest section of the town, relocated in the Central Station.
Minutes after the initial alarm, flames were in all three floors of the club and spread to two adjacent buildings, converting the row of three wood frame buildings into an inferno.
The first-in companies used 3-inch supply lines to put master streams into operation and eventually three ladder pipes and a deluge set were operating on the fire in addition to 2 ½-inch hand lines. Because of the radiant heat, booster lines and D/2-inch preconnected lines were used to protect Engine 12 and fire fighters working in the area immediately in front of the blaze.
Walls collapse
The front walls of the three 50-yearold buildings collapsed into Arch Street about 3:30 p.m. Fortunately, this caused no injuries, and fire fighting operations were then concentrated on protecting an adjacent four-story brick building at 73 Arch Street. Flames spread to the roof and fire got into the top floor despite early efforts to protect all exposures.
Although there was considerable damage to the two top floors, fire fighters removed most of the merchandise from two ground-floor antique shops in this building. The antiques, many of which were reported to be of considerable value, were carried across the street to the lot of a vacant gasoline service station.
The fire was brought under control at 5:38 p.m. by 125 fire fighters. Men from the Central Station remained on the scene until 5 p.m. the next day, overhauling and wetting down as a crane brought in at 8 p.m. the day of fire removed debris.
The blaze left 25 persons homeless and damage was estimated at $500,000.
The fire marshal, a fire inspector and several policemen were cited for their rescue efforts, and nine fire fighters were commended for their work at the fire.
