Firefighters investigate cause of Shelton blaze

SHELTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- An overnight blaze at a vacant building has firefighters in Shelton trying to get to the bottom of how it all started.

The building that housed the Apex Tool Company has been vacant for years. Fire consumed the building early Wednesday morning and quickly spread to the business next door. 

"You report it, the police come down, you know everybody's responsive, but you know, there's a problem and unfortunately they scatter and then they come back in a half hour," said Philip White, President of Better Packages.

"Vacant buildings, that's the way it goes, that's the modern times," said Michael Dokla, of Shelton. "All the industry left, so now we're stuck with the dead, buildings, little old towns like Shelton, stuck with it. That's it."

Fortunately for White and his roughly 30 employees, the damage to Better Packages was contained mostly to a storage area. He toured the building around 8 a.m. and said the main part of the building was hit with mostly water and smoke damage.

"The damage is there, but it's readily cleanable damage," said White. "So, we'll get in the professionals, help us clean it up, and get back into business right away."

Fighting fires in winter can be challenging. Freezing temperatures and water make for a nasty combination.

The cold temperatures turned the walkways near the fire into sheets of ice. One firefighter was injured when he slipped and hurt his ankle.

The Shelton Fire Department was assisted by crews from nearby Derby and Ansonia.

"The firemen did a phenomenal job. I mean this is a 125-year-old building, and for them to have, where the fire was, and to be able to prevent it and control it as quickly as they did and prevent extensive damage, they were real experts," said White.