Fire devastates building with multiple businesses in downtown Stamford
Fire officials say they arrived at the scene a little before 5 a.m. and spent about two hours battling both the flames and the weather.
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Multiple businesses in one of the busiest parts of downtown Stamford were left damaged after a fire ripped through a building at the corner of Bedford Street and Spring Street early Friday morning.
Fire officials say they arrived at the scene a little before 5 a.m. and spent about two hours battling both the flames and the weather.
"If we put a ladder up against the building, the wind was actually knocking the ladders over," Stamford Deputy Fire Chief Paul Newman said, describing the conditions.
While the department says two firefighters were hurt, the injuries are minor and they were treated at the scene.
Officials tell News 12 that the fire started in Chez Vouz Bistro, a family-owned restaurant on the first floor, which Stamford resident Nancy Souza describes as "the premier French restaurant in the area."
From there, the fire department says the flames spread to every part of the building, which includes Whim Women’s Clothing, Atelier Valoar Couture clothing, Deco Fine Arts and Framing and multiple offices, including the Women’s Business Development Council.
"This is the historic center of downtown, the pulse and the heartbeat of downtown," explained Mike Moore, the president of the Stamford Downtown Special Services District.
Souza says she heard the sirens.
"I was devastated...I sent [the news] to my whole family, it's very upsetting,” she says.
News 12 is told that city officials were able to get in touch with the business owners almost right away, both getting them information and giving them a chance to come by before the building was closed off.
Moore was able to meet with the business owners as well, and said, "They're devastated, they've put their heart and soul into the businesses, this is their livelihood, but the general sentiment is they want to come back."
Officials say there is no timeline for when that will be.
The building's landlord tells News 12 on the phone that while his priority is to rebuild and get the businesses back in, they're just starting to go through the process of talking to their insurance.
In the meantime, Stamford resident Cynthia Marroquin says, “We're willing to help out in any way that we can, and I know that Stamford will come together and be the community that it is."
Officials say the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
