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Additional Connecticut Post Article on the Trumbull High School Fire
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Taken from the Connecticut Post Website Saturday August 15th, 2009 Edition:
Smoldering insulation at Trumbull High School sparks fears of major fire
By Richard Weizel
staff writer
Updated: 08/15/2009 02:17:13 AM EDT
TRUMBULL -- For about 24 hours, nobody could figure out where the smell of smoke was coming from at Trumbull High School.
That sparked fears that a major fire might erupt Friday afternoon at the Strobel Road high school, where renovations are taking place, leading officials to close down all power in the main building and dispatch a large contingent of firefighters to the scene. More than 35 firefighters went through the building room by room, removing tiles and panels, until finally finding a small piece of smoldering fiber insulation outside the building between an old canopy above the former main entrance.
"Our workers started smelling smoke Thursday, and we notified the Fire Department and Fire Marshal's office immediately," said Alfonso F. Barbarotta, president and CEO for AFB Construction Management, which is heading the high school renovation project.
"At first, we thought it was coming from the main building, and that we might be in big trouble," Barbarotta said.
As workers and firefighters searched throughout the building Friday for the source of the acrid smell, power was shut off to ensure safety, fire officials said. Then, as the burning odor intensified, firefighters from several fire stations in Trumbull, assisted by fire crews from Shelton, were sent to the scene as a precaution.
But Trumbull Fire Chief Wayne Schalich, who heads the volunteer unit, said after a several-hour search late Friday afternoon, firefighters discovered a smoldering piece of fiber insulation between the old canopy and the building that had been sparked the day before when workers starting removing the concrete structure.
Officials said contractors working to remove the large canopy at the school's main entrance, combined with hot weather the last few days, may have caused wall insulation to begin smoldering.
"We went through the school like a fine tooth comb, going into every area to try and find the source of the smoke, and it wasn't easy to locate," Schalich said. "It was a big relief when we finally found it late in the day, and then it took about a half-hour to get it under control."
Schalich said several firefighters were treated at the scene for heat exhaustion, but there were no other injuries.
Barbarotta said when the smoldering insulation was pinpointed late Friday afternoon, "everyone sighed in relief because the problem area was slated to be rebuilt as part of the renovation project anyway.
"I spoke on the phone with First Selectman Ray Baldwin, and he joked that we got a day's head start because the canopy was slated to come down Monday," Barbarotta said.
A $73 million renovation of the nearly 40-year-old school recently got under way, with the first phase to include a 1,100 seat, $10 million auditorium. Officials indicated there was no major monetary damage because the concrete canopy was slated to be rebuilt as part of the renovation project.
Fire Marshal Megan Murphy said the incident is not considered suspicious.
"It was apparently ignited on Thursday when crews were using power equipment to start removing the old canopy," Murphy said. "A small piece of fiber insulation started smoldering, which caused the smoke. Once firefighters found the source of the smoke they were able to get everything under control in about a half hour."
Fire units stayed on the scene for several hours afterward, however, to make sure all the smoldering insulation did not spread or start up again, fire officials said.
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