The West Hartford Fire Department responded to a blaze on Railroad Place in Elmwood on Friday morning.

By Ronni Newton

One firefighter sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the process of extinguishing a blaze that broke out at an industrial facility on Railroad Place in the Elmwood section of West Hartford on Friday morning, officials said.

According to West Hartford Fire Chief Greg Priest, dispatchers received a report of a fire visible behind a building on New Britain Avenue near the former Puritan Furniture building at 8:56 a.m. As police and firefighters were on their way, additional 911 calls came in indicating visible heavy fire and smoke.

The first units arrived by 9 a.m., Priest said, and discovered that the blaze was at an industrial facility on Railroad Place. The property, at 19 Railroad Place, is owned by Abbott Ball Company.

“Heavy fire was observed from an attached storage structure, which prompted the on-duty Shift Commander to call for a working fire, generating a response of additional fire units, as well as mutual aid coverage to stations. Early information indicated that the fire had not yet extended into the occupied area and that there were no occupants in the storage area; however, the product burning was metal (aluminum). As a metal fire, this required different firefighting tactics and considerations, and CT’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) was requested to the scene,” Priest said in an email.

West Hartford Fire Department battled a fire at 19 Railroad Place on July 3, 2026. Courtesy of West Hartford Fire Department

Firefighters used supply lines and multiple hand lines, as well as non-PFAS-containing foam, to attack and dampen the fire, and to protect the exposed building and prevent spread to an attached building, Priest said. There were few occupants in the building, and all had self-evacuated and had been accounted for, he said.

Friday morning’s weather was extremely hot and humid, and one firefighter experienced a “heat-related condition” during the course of responding to the fire, Priest said. That individual was treated at the scene by a West Hartford firefighter/paramedic, and transported to an area hospital by American Medical Response accompanied by the firefighter/paramedic. According to Priest, the individual was in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.

Firefighters continued to attack the blaze for several hours, declaring it under control at 11:17 a.m., Priest said.

He expressed his thanks to the West Hartford Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Support Unit, which assisted at the scene providing rehabilitation and hydration.

The origin and cause continue to be under investigation by the West Hartford Fire Marshal’s Office. “In consultation with CT DEEP and the property owner,  an environmental contractor will be assisting with the cleanup,” Priest said.

No further injuries to firefighters or personnel were reported.

Priest extended his best wishes to the hospitalized firefighters for a speedy recovery. “We would also like to thank our dispatchers, the WH Police Department, CT DEEP, WH OEM, the Hartford Fire Department, Newington Fire, UConn Fire, and AMR, who assisted at the scene or covered the Town while our units were committed to the fire,” Priest added.

As the 4th of July weekend – and the heat – continue, Priest asked the community tobe mindful and enjoy the holiday.

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