More than 20 fire companies and over 100 firefighters responded to a massive four-alarm fire at an industrial building on River Street in New Haven early Wednesday morning. The fire, reported around 6:45 a.m., quickly intensified, with explosions heard on-site due to propane tanks stored within.

• Massive Four-Alarm Industrial Fire Engulfs New Haven Building on River Street

• New Haven, CT – Wednesday, October 30, 2024

• A massive fire broke out early Wednesday morning at an industrial building on River Street in New Haven, drawing more than 20 fire companies and over 100 firefighters from across the region to contain the blaze. Crews were first dispatched to the site, located at 36 River Street, around 6:45 a.m. as heavy smoke began pouring from the second floor of the building. By 8 a.m., the situation had escalated into a four-alarm fire, with fire departments across the area mobilizing additional resources to manage the incident.

• New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker arrived on the scene shortly after the fire was reported and confirmed that the building serves multiple purposes. It houses an auto body shop, food truck storage, and other storage units, making it a complex fire scenario for emergency responders. Some bystanders reported hearing explosions from within the building, which Mayor Elicker suggested could be due to propane tanks stored inside. While these explosions intensified the fire and presented additional hazards to firefighters, Elicker noted that no injuries had been reported as of yet.

• Two workers affiliated with the auto body shop were reportedly sleeping inside the building when the fire began but managed to escape unharmed. Mayor Elicker mentioned that the workers had allegedly been given permission to sleep on-site by the building’s owner. Their quick escape has been a source of relief to officials, who are focusing their efforts on controlling the fire and securing the safety of nearby residents.

• “It’s a big deal, as you can imagine—a lot of resources here,” Elicker said during a press update from the scene. “The most important thing is that people are safe, and so far, thank God, it appears everyone is safe.”

• The scale of the fire has required assistance from neighboring communities, with West Haven emergency management providing coverage at New Haven’s Howard Station while nearly all New Haven resources were directed to River Street. FDNY units also contributed to efforts, adding much-needed support for what has become one of the largest fires the New Haven area has seen in recent years.

• On-scene fire officials described the efforts to contain the fire as particularly challenging due to the building’s layout and the potential hazards from propane tanks and other flammable materials inside. The response has involved dozens of trucks, extensive hoses, and aerial ladders as firefighters combat flames stretching across multiple floors. In addition to fire suppression, authorities are working to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby structures, which include other industrial properties.

• As the morning unfolded, Mayor Elicker and fire officials worked to keep the public informed, cautioning residents to avoid the area due to heavy smoke and emergency vehicle traffic. Environmental and public health officials are also monitoring the air quality to ensure safety for nearby neighborhoods, as the thick smoke raised concerns over respiratory health hazards.

• The cause of the fire remains unknown, and investigators have begun planning an inquiry into the origin once the fire is fully contained.