@NewHavenFire X photos
The early Wednesday fire at 36 River.
More than 100 firefighters from New Haven and surrounding towns rushed out to River Street early Wednesday morning to put down a four-alarm fire — with no reported injuries, so far — as exploding vehicle gas tanks contributed to a high-intensity blaze.
That fire took place at a two-story brick warehouse building at 36 River St. starting at 6:45 a.m., according to Assistant Fire Chief Danny Coughlin.
Coughlin said that a passerby noticed flames at around that time, and called 911.
“We found heavy fire throughout the building,” Coughlin said. Firefighters made the tactical decision not to enter the building, he said, because of how intense the flames were and how “really unsafe” it was to have anyone inside.
The fire quickly rose to a second-alarm blaze. And then a third alarm. And then a fourth alarm
Coughlin said the city called in “mutual aid staffing” to help cover existing city firehouses. Firefighters from North Haven, East Haven, and West Haven also turned out to the River Street blaze to let the city use a “large-diameter supply hose” — a necessary intervention to ensure firefighters had access to enough water when fighting the blaze.
Fortunately, Coughin said soon before 11 a.m., there was “not a single injury” by the publication time of this story.
He said two people exited the building at around the time firefighters showed up. Coughlin said he did not know what they were doing inside. They initially reported injuries from smoke inhalation, he said, but ultimately declined medical help.
Coughlin said the building was not vacant, but instead was occupied by five different businesses. There were food trucks parked on scene. There was also an apparent car repair shop. Coughlin said that there were “numerous explosions from gas tanks of vehicles” that contributed to the intensity of Wednesday morning’s blaze.
“They did a great, great job” in challenging circumstances, Coughlin said about the 100-plus firefighters who turned out to River Street on Wednesday.
As of around 11 a.m., Coughlin added, firefighters were just “chasing hotspots.” The fire, after such an intense morning, was now under control.
According to city land records, the two warehouse buildings at 24 and 36 River St. are owned by a company controlled by Fair Haven builder Concrete Creations. Those River Street industrial buildings used to house the Seaboard Oil Company.
Click here to read an article about when that company purchased these buildings in 2020 for nearly $1.4 million. Click here to read more about the fire on the @NewHavenFire X feed.
