NAUGATUCK, Conn. — Naugatuck fire crews are working to control hot spots after a massive fire broke out at a vacant building Monday night.
The fire broke out at the former Lewis Engineering building at 238 Water Street. Fire crews closed Water Street between Cedar Street and Church Street as they continued to work at the scene Tuesday morning.
The nearby Spark Little Learners Daycare is also expected to be closed on Tuesday due to the fire investigation and cleanup.
The first report of the fire was called into the Naugatuck Fire Department around 6 p.m. Monday.
Mutual aid was called in from Waterbury, Middlebury, Prospect, and Beacon Falls to help battle the flames. Off-duty personnel were also called back to help at the scene so they could rotate crews throughout the night, according to officials. The building has now been deemed unstable and will be demolished Tuesday.
Officials said that the building was once used to make electronic parts for airplanes but has been empty for about a decade.
Deputy Fire Chief Ken Hanks said a company based out of New Jersey currently owns the building, but they do not know what it's used for. Officials said they found a lot of items on the burning second floor.
Fire crews took a "defensive" posture as they attacked the blaze, not attempting to enter the building and only tackling the flames from the outside to protect other nearby buildings and keep fire crews safe. Officials said Monday evening that they managed to keep the fire well-contained.
“Shortly after we pulled out, we heard building collapses," Hanks said. "The front wall fell into the street, so we stayed in a safe zone."
Heavy smoke could also be seen through the town Monday night, and Naugatuck Fire Department's Captain David Proulx said the firehouse would become inundated with smoke when the wind blew due to its location less than half a mile from the fire.
Neighbor Kelvin Mitchell Sr. said he and his family were evacuated out of precaution. He said he couldn't believe how high the flames reached.
“I didn’t anticipate the flames responding the way they did to the fire. The water didn’t have much impact at all. Clearly, it was very hot, and there was a lot to burn in there," Mitchell said.
At this time, it's unknown what sparked the fire, and officials remain at the scene Tuesday morning to investigate.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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