WOODBRIDGE -- Several fire departments responded to the Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven on Monday after reports of a large fire, and two firefighters were hospitalized.
Officials with the Woodbridge Fire Department say that two firefighters are believed to be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning after excessive smoke inhalation, but they are still being assessed by doctors as of 8 p.m. -- about four hours after the fire broke out.
There is still a lot of carbon monoxide present in the building, fire officials told FOX 61, and crews are trying to ventilate the building. That will take several more hours, and must be completed before investigators can enter and determine the cause of the fire.
Around 3:45 p.m. a fire broke out in the locker room area of the JCC, which is located at 360 Amity Road in Woodbridge. There is a pool, daycare, and gym facility at the center, but it appears the fire may have started in one of the saunas.
About 150 people were evacuated, including children who were at the daycare, according to Judy Diamondstein, CEO of the JCC of Greater New Haven. The kids were taken to a nearby retirement facility.
Other then the two firefighters, no other injuries have been reported. The flames were out by 5 p.m.
Woodbridge, Orange, Bethany, Seymour and Prospect all sent their fire departments to the scene to assist, and Amity Road was closed since hoses had to be brought across the road.
Diamondstein is the one who said the fire is believed to have started in the sauna. She added that they regularly conduct fire drills and so everyone evacuated quickly. She said she was proud of how smoothly staff handled the evacuation.
No word yet on what caused the fire.
