Ansonia, CT, Fire Latex Foam Co 5-2001

Recieved this video from a friend re-visiting family & friends in the town of Ansonia, Connecticut where I lived prior to this massive industrial fire back in May 2001, (sorry had an old video cam, quality is marginal).
It was a intense and immense fire but somehow not a shock to me that such a enormous blaze could occur in this small community. Not a shock in the sense, nothing has changed since my 20 year departure when returning this past spring 09 which reminded me to post this video. Many old blighted industrial eye-sore structures still standing with broken windows, siding pealing off the industrial buildings, weedy side walks all around the North Main Street entrance corridor. A sign of hope would be the number of self-proclaimed churches, minority variety shops, a Birmingham Social Service facility, Ansonia Housing Authority office and the massive rental community Ansonia represents in demographics. My departure was simply symbolic via this video.
Those relatives have since moved from the town as well. Makes one wonder who is over-seeing the town
With little or no progress other than minimum wage box store jobs.
I use to wonder why the town frequently purchased fire equipment when they could simply rid themselves of the blighted hazards which would have benefited the population. Oh well.. you are what you eat or in this case what you bring-in or attract as a city. Enforcing fines on blighted home owners is Childs play, enforcing fines on a industrial mess is only for the talented and outgoing admins.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Ansonia
• Connecticut
• Firefighters
• Latex Foam
• Industrial
• Fire
• disaster
• emergency
• rescue
• training
• fire truck
• first responce
• on scene
• alarm
• mutual aid
• hose
• multiple alarm
• 3 alarm
• 4 alarm
• 5 alarm
• 6 alarm
• 7 alarm

[SmallCityReviewer]

Hello Izzy4 PT4

Precautionary and strict blight regulated compliance laws are of the upmost and many of these historical Civil War Era structures were all refurbished 25 to 30 years ago and kept in pristine condition by way of the respected population. Common sense in what kind of box you want to live in and what you want to put into it. Who is your Mayor in Ansonia now ? Some time ago I heard it was a James DellaVolpe

[SmallCityReviewer]

Hello Izzy 4 PT3

Driving around the North end sections from the old library north not only was a depressing industrial visual but also seemed like I was in a Southern Hemisphere rental community judging by all the social cases now walking the streets.

Wish you all the best over there and enjoy the new equipment or what many here in Wyoming call boys toys. Our Volunteers pretty much see fire fighting as a hobby as not much happens with the buildings or other around here .

[SmallCityReviewer]

Hello Izzy4 PT2

We all know commercial property pretty much plans their own destiny and they can pack and leave at any time. I have many fond memories of the town and recall Main Street shoulder to shoulder with shoppers during the day. Mays Variety Store was a favorite and the Capital Movie Theatre was our hangout. Cant believe they turned it into a hang-out for the elderly. It seems like most of the population walking Main is elderlyMmmmm?

[SmallCityReviewer]

Hello " izzy4 PT1" ....thanks for the fire service.

I am not sure if I would ever consider such a move backwards in life as your instinct and mine is to always move forward. Going back to Ansonia honestly gave me a sense of visiting a time capsule. I did see some improvements especially with the old Latex site but it appears they replaced it with commercialism to generate a quick or sorely needed tax dollar. Not sure if those cash registers are 20 deep today.

[getalife67]

It was the dryer that caused this, i know what the dryer looks like, i used to work at the new latex in shelton and if those pillows get backed up in the dryer better ru like hell lol.

[getalife67]

Yea they put a Target where this building was lo.

[mime4jesus]

It's getting worse here now. When we moved into our house 10 years ago it wasn't so bad. In the last 2 years or so we have seen an increase in people hanging out in the streets and crime has gone up. I don't know where these people are moving here from. The neighborhood watches have seemed to help a little though.

[truck501]

holy crap ..... surround and drown man ?? and personal id have the guys throw A.F.F.F at it to ?

[paradoxymoronic]

I lived a few blocks away, but was several towns away when it happened. The smoke was so great, I could see it from where I was and did not find out until much later just how close it was to home.

The tap water was brown for days (I still don't know why that was).

[mstm1productions]

i was mad young wen this happend

[MAY14ISAWSOME]

target is there now

[bigtowman72]

That was my First Structure Fire, I rode in the officers seat oin E-1 and was taken aback but I did what I had to do, Unfortunetly I went down and was transported to the Mighty "Griff" by the Tango's. I will never forget that day as long as I live, It made me a Firefighter and I look forward to returning to Ct. So I can once again Be a Volunteer Firefighter.