Bridgeport woodworking company up in flames

(WTNH) -- Bridgeport firefighters on the job early Christmas Eve douse a fire at a woodworking business.

An exterior attack. Bridgeport Firefighters kept flames from spreading to other buildings but flames rose high into the dark early morning sky.

The assistant chief told News 8 the fire had been burning for quite a while even before they arrived at 3:00 a.m.

"We had a hard time figuring out which building it was. The smoke was just banked down on to the ground," said Assistant Chief Robert Morton from the Bridgeport Fire department.

The smoke them shot straight up once the roof collapsed and could be seen for miles. Pequonnock River Woodworking Company is full of wood, perfect fuel for this fire. Since no one was in the building, firefighters were also kept out, the attack coming from above.

"You got little lean two's more or less when the roof collapses. While this is burning, you can't get at it because it's still covered by the roof. So you're just pouring water on it. It's what we call surround and drown," said Morton.

That is one of the other hazards for firefighters. Because it's so cold out, the water that flows off is freezing on the ground. They have the public works department there in Bridgeport, and also firefighters putting sand down, but some of the other water then washes it away.

DEEP was also called to the scene to monitor what chemicals might be flowing into the Pequonnock River. The back of the building sits right over it.

"They have some storage of wood products in the back, which we just can't get at," said Morton.

The owner talked with fire investigators after getting a call no one wants to receive, especially Christmas Eve.