The Bridgeport Fire Department dealt with a pair of fires Wednesday including one that took place on  property near Wayne Jamison Field.

 

According to Fire Chief Phil Hart, the department responded to a call for a vehicle fire that came into the 911 center at 12:31 p.m. They also responded earlier in the day to a report of a dumpster fire at the Crestview Terrace Apartment complex at 11:20 a.m.

 

Both fires were contained and quickly extinguished. However, the vehicle fire proved to be the worse of the two.

 

Hat said a passerby noticed smoke coming out of the cab of the vehicle and alerted emergency officials. By the time the fire department arrived, Hart said the vehicle was fully involved.

 

“The truck in question, which was doing maintenance at the school and was not a school board truck, but likely a subcontractor, was totaled,” said Hart. “It is completely destroyed inside and out.”

 

Despite the damage to the truck, Hart said the response by the community member proved valuable. Fire personnel were able to remove equipment, including lawn mowers and weed eaters from an attached trailer.

 

“That’s why it is so important to call 911 if you suspect anything,” said Hart. “There would have likely been more property damage had that first call not been made.”

 

Hart said no one was injured in the truck fire. He also said there was no additional property damage other than to the vehicle.

 

The late-morning dumpster fire proved to be a bit more uneventful, but Hart said that was the result of proper planning and placement of the trash disposal unit.

 

“It was in a proper location away from the building,” said Hart. “In the manner it was located there was no chance of damage to any of the structures. We were able to get it under control quickly and all the contents inside were destroyed.”

 

Hart said the truck fire may have started from a cigarette in the back seat but does not appear to be suspicious in nature. The cause of the dumpster fire is undetermined but could have been accidental or set. He said, as of now, both will not be further investigated.

 

The Bridgeport Police Department assisted on the scene of the truck fire near Jamison Field, Hart said.

 

As noted Wednesday, the Bridgeport Fire Department dealt with another car fire on Interstate 79 shortly after the one near Jamison Field. The department had a busy day that also included double digit medical calls.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows the truck fully involved as fire personnel arrive, while the final result is shown in the second photo. Firefighters are shown putting an end to the Crestview Terrace dumpster fire below.