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Three firefighters were taken to the hospital as crews spent the overnight hours battling the blaze that started Thursday evening at a warehouse that houses a roofing company and perfume-recycling company in Bridgeport.
The five-alarm fire at the Trading Company and J.W. Roofing and Siding was fueled by 55,000 gallons of chemicals, which has created a potential environmental hazard.
"Our brave firefighters fought an inferno," said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch at an afternoon new conference. "It was a difficult and scary situation to see that much of an inferno."
Now there are environmental concerns over contamination in the Long Island Sound. Authorities say drinking water is NOT affected. More than 400 people were evacuated from their homes after the fire started at 7 p.m. Thursday because of the chemicals involved, and there may be some minor respiratory issues with people having sensitive lungs.
Connecticut environmental officials said Friday morning they have temporarily closed fishing areas in Bridgeport Harbor and on the Sound from Norwalk to Milford. The U.S. Coast Guard said it will help enforce the shutdown and examine the extent of the pollution.
Gov. Dannel Malloy, who also spoke Friday afternoon, said that air and water samples had been taken for testing. "This is a disaster for Bridgeport. We think we understand the safety implications," he said.
There were also concerns about the roughly 50 jobs lost because of the fire. Malloy said that the state would also assist with housing, insurance and concerns about restoring power. "Many of the people who worked here were from the neighborhood," he said. "We have reached out to the Small Business Administration."
Fire officials spent the morning bringing the fire under control, but they were still dousing hot spots Friday afternoon. There have been also been several collapses responders had to contend with.
About 1,500 homes were without power shut as a precaution.