ENFIELD — Chief Edward Richards reports that Enfield Fire Rescue extinguished a structure fire and rescued a woman from the Connecticut River within the span of one hour on Sunday, Nov. 17.

At approximately 11:57 a.m., Enfield Fire Rescue District 1 was dispatched to a reported structure fire at a home at 28 Raffia Rd.

Engine 15 was first on the scene and located a fire on the back deck that had spread to the back siding of the house. A neighbor and passersby had helped to keep the fire contained with a garden hose before firefighters arrived.

Crews worked quickly to extinguish the flames. Deputy Chief Paul Januszewski was in command at the scene.

Two parties in the home escaped before firefighters arrived and there were no injuries.

The home suffered damage to the back deck and siding. The damages are estimated to be less than $5,000.

The cause of the fire was investigated by the Enfield Fire District and was determined to have been caused by the careless disposal of smoking materials which had ignited leaves on the back deck of the home.

“This incident shows how important it is to be careful with smoking materials and how you dispose of them,” Deputy Chief Januszewski said. “Smoking materials should always be completely put out before they are discarded and they should not be discarded in or near anything that can ignite.”

As Enfield firefighters were clearing the scene of the fire at approximately 12:34 p.m., they were dispatched to a report of a person who had jumped from the Route 190 bridge over the Connecticut River.

Enfield firefighters arrived and, with assistance from the Thompsonville and North Thompsonville Fire Departments, three boats were launched into the river to conduct a search.

Firefighters from the three departments were able to find and rescue the woman about three-quarters of a mile downstream from the bridge. She was transported via the Enfield Fire District 1 hovercraft to the Parsons Road boat launch where she was treated and then transported by Enfield Fire to a local hospital for treatment of symptoms believed to be hypothermia.

###