Crime & Safety

State, Town Officials Investigating Cause Of Early Morning Fire That Destroyed Downtown Building

State and local fire officials were investigating the cause of an early morning fire that destroyed a building in the heart of the town's thriving restaurant and retail district, decimating three businesses. 

The building at 734-738 Boston Post Road was destroyed. The building housed the Madison Wine Shop and Village Pizza facing main street, and a small business office upstairs. The building likely will be demolished after the investigation is complete. 

The early morning fire, which broke out sometime before 3:30 a.m., was not immediately detected because there wasn't a fire alarm in the building, or it wasn't operating properly, according to emergency responders and people familiar with the businesses in the building. The heat of the fire appears to have blown out a side window, which activated a fire alarm, according to early unconfirmed reports. 

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That alarm prompted a response by the police department, which determined there was a fire. They pulled the alarm, calling in the town's volunteer firefighters from Madison Hose Co. No. 1 and also the North Madison Volunteer Fire Co. 

Madison Hose Co. No. 1 Fire Chief Bobby Kyttle said he wanted to thank firefighters from several surrounding towns responded, including Branford, Guilford, Durham, Killingworth and Clinton.

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Here is the full press release from the Madison Police Department: 

At approximately 0330 hours this morning, June 20, 2013, the Madison Police Department responded to a building alarm at 734-738 Boston Post Road.  The building contains the space of two businesses, the Madison Wine Shop and Village Pizza.  First responding officers discovered heavy smoke rising from the structure.  Madison Hose Company No. 1 and North Madison Fire Departments responded to the scene.  Additional mutual aid was provided by Branford, Guilford, Durham, Killingworth and Clinton fire departments.  The fire has been suppressed.    

The Town of Madison Fire Marshal’s Office, Madison Police Department and the Office of the State Fire Marshal commenced an investigation into the cause/origin of the fire.  That investigation is currently active.

 

Traffic flow in the area of Madison Town center is currently restricted.  Parking in the area is also limited.  Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes until further notice. 

 

Power to some businesses/buildings in the area is currently out due to the emergency.  Connecticut Light & Power is on scene and will restore power as soon as safe to do so.  The Southern Connecticut Gas Company is also on scene to assess the situation.  The Town of Madison Building Inspector and the Madison Director of Emergency Management are also on scene.

During the fire suppression and subsequent search of the building, no occupants were found and no one, including emergency responders, was injured.

Authorized by Commander John J. Rich 

***

Original story: 

An early morning fire in the heart of downtown Madison has decimated the building that houses Village Pizza and Madison Wine Shop.

Boston Post Road in front of Village Pizza and the Madison Wine Shop, where the first broke out, was closed as of 8:00 a.m., but emergency responders said part of the street, on the other side, could be open to traffic by 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m., and that some shops and restaurants may open later today, depending on whether they have power and their proximity to work that remains to be done, which could include demolition of the building. 

Already, town residents were asking what they could do to help: 

Tom Burland said on the Madison Patch Facebook page: "Two icons of downtown, lets show these businesses the kind of town we are. How can we help them get up and running as quickly as possible? Summer makes up a big part of these businesses annual profit. Lets show them what kind of community we are. A few weeks ago we held Raise the Roof down town, lets organize Raise the Pizza and Wine and get these guys back in business ASAP!" Sue quickly agreed, "Yes! Please assess and let us know how we as a community can help."

If you have any ideas about that, please post them in the comments below. 

John and Whitney Algieri, the owners of the Madison Wine Shop were on the scene and talking with fire officials by 8:30 a.m. They were not immediately available for comment. Venetia Athanasoulia, one of the owners of the Village Pizza Restaurant, said she and her son, who runs the  business with her, were devastated but determined to get back in business as soon as possible. 

She said her son learned of the fire after seeing something on the computer and that she ran to the TV in her home in Stamford and turned it on. She saw the building that has housed the popular pizzeria since 1989, destroyed. 

"It's not my building," she said, standing across the street from the ruins of the building around 8:15 a.m. "But we do hope to get back in business as soon as possible." 

When she heard that some town residents already wanted to help, she said, "thank you."

Volunteer firefighters from Madison Hose Co No 1 and North Madison Volunteer Fire Co., and emergency personnel responded, including units from many surrounding towns including Clinton, Guilford, Killingworth and others. 

Emergency personnel said it appears as though no one was hurt. The fire broke out around 3:30 a.m. According to unconfirmed reports, the fire alarm did not go off in Madison Wine Shop, where it appears the fire broke out. The heat of the fire may have caused a window to burst, prompting a burglar alarm. But those reports are early and unconfirmed. 

There is no word as to the cause of the fire. Madison Hose Co. No. 1 Fire Chief Bobby Kyttle said it appears as though the second floor of the building may have collapsed and that is likely that the building will have to come down. He said he expected the firefighters' work on the building likely will continue throughout the day.

The fire appears to be contained to the building that includes the pizza shop and the wine store, sparing surrounding buildings in the downtown area, that includes many shops and restaurants. Merchants from the area are gathering downtown, many of them sad that the building was destroyed, and said they relieved that it appears no one was hurt and that the damage was not worse. 

It appears as though the surrounding buildings are intact and some of the merchants are reporting that they have power. 

Many merchants gathering downtown said they remember the Great Madison Fire of December 1985, that took out buildings in the area where Khaki and Black, Coldwell Banker, and Willoughby's now stand. They expressed relief that no one was hurt, and that the firefighters work saved the rest of the downtown this time. 

Correction: The original story said that the law firm of Hill & Hill was directly affected by the fire. It was not. 


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