Fairfield County, Stamford | featured news

STAMFORD — A Seaton Road condo fire was quickly extinguished Tuesday night.

Lt. Patrick Tripodi said 26 firefighters responded after a resident reported smoke coming from a bedroom closet about 8:25 p.m. Tuesday.

Using touch and thermal imaging cameras, the firefighters found a fire in the wall of the second-floor condo that was extending into the common attic space.

The wall was opened and the fire was extinguished without any injuries. The power to the condo was shut down and fire investigators are determining the cause of the blaze.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com

STAMFORD-City fire investigators say that a blaze that scorched one home and destroyed another late Monday afternoon while displacing 32 residents was ignited by an electric overload in a tiny illegal dwelling unit.

Chief Fire Marshal Charles Spaulding said his investigators as well as state fire marshals found a five-toot by seven-foot illegal dwelling on the first floor rear porch of 50 Alden Street, where the fire began.

STAMFORD-Stamford Police Association members dropped off 70 bicycle helmets to about a half dozen day cares and other organizations Tuesday, clearing out the last of about 900 helmets the union collected for their Timothy Coppola helmet giveaway event from 2015.

Police union President Kris Engstrand along with Vice President Chris Gioielli and motorcycle officer John Buehler visited the day cares that included Bright Beginnings, Harper’s Hill, The Childrens Learning Center, Helping Hands and Inspirica to drop off the helmets.

STAMFORD — A runaway teenager sleeping in a Dumpster was nearly crushed when a garbage company emptied the container early Tuesday morning.

Sgt. Robert Shawinsky said the 16-year-old boy was lucky the garbage truck driver heard his cries for help and stopped the compactor. The boy emerged from the hopper with some scrapes and bruises.

Shawinsky said the City Carting driver was emptying a Dumpster on East Main Street at 3 a.m. Tuesday.

STAMFORD-Fire officials say 32 people have been burned out of their Alden Street homes during a five-alarm blaze on Stamford’s West Side late Monday afternoon. Stamford Fire Marshal Charles Spaulding said the two homes at 46 and 50 Alden Street that were badly damaged by fire contained eight living units. Spaulding said the investigation as to what caused the fire is ongoing. “We have a very good idea where the fire started.

It may be close to 90 degrees out, but city officials are reminding residents that it’s not too early to get this year’s flu shot.

The city is offering flu shots at 137 Henry St. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in October from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will give them at the Stamford Government Center’s fourth floor patio every Thursday between Sept. 28 and Oct. 26 from 11: 30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Medicare Part B is the only insurance accepted. The regular vaccine is $26.

STAMFORD — The owner of a city dental practice who used the records of a retired dentist to bill insurance companies for more than 10 years of work that was never performed has been sentenced to a year and one day in jail.

Elena Ilizarov, 45, of Stamford, was facing up to 20 years in jail for bilking the insurance companies of nearly $600,000, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

She was sentenced Friday by U.S. Distict Judge Victor Bolden in Bridgeport and her sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. Bolden will issue a restitution order within 30 days.

STAMFORD — After a primary election for Board of Representatives in District 2 came down to a one-vote margin, a recount Monday ended in a tie, according to the Town Clerk’s office. A new primary election will likely be held on Oct. 10 at the District 2 voting precinct at 198 Selleck St. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Only registered Democrats in District 2 can vote in this closed primary election.

STAMFORD — Two landscaping employees suffered injuries after a fire broke out at a South End commercial building, fire officials said.

Stamford Fire Department received reports around 2:32 p.m. Friday of a fire with “heavy black smoke” coming from the garage of the commercial building at 95 Elmcroft Road.

Fire officials said that the fire began in the tool room of a landscaping business.

After ensuring the building was evacuated, firefighters worked to contain the fire to the tool room.

Trinity Catholic High School held a Night of Unity and Peace service on Thursday to coincide with the United Nation's International Day of Peace.