One Dead, One Severely Injured in Old Greenwich House Fire [Updated] [VIDEO]

Updated: 2:15 p.m.:

Greenwich Fire Chief Peter Siecenski said more than 60 career and volunteer firefighters from nearly all departments in town responded to the early morning fire that claimed the life of a 42-year-old man.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, "there was heavy fire on the first floor ... that turned into a search and rescue operation." Siecenski said that he could not comment on where the fire started in the two-story brick and vinyl-sided home at 46 Havemeyer Ln.

"The property and the residence was extremely cluttered. There was an extreme amoung of material outside the residence, but it didn't pose a major" risk to firefighters or impede their efforts, Siecenski said. He said firefighters from all 8 of the town's fire stations as well as the Sound Beach, Cos Cob and Amogerone volunteer companies responded to the 7:09 a.m. blaze reported by neighbors who reported smoke pouring from the windows of the home.

He also would not comment or confirm news reports identifying the man or the elderly woman who was taken to the burn unit of Bridgeport Hospital, with severe injuries. "We still have to notify next of kin," Siecenski said. He would not say whether the victim died at the scene.

Fire investigators and detectives from the Greenwich Police Department remained at the scene Tuesday afternoon sifting through the burned remains. Siecenski said a tracking dog from the Connecticut State Fire Marshal's office was brought to the scene but he would not comment on what, if anything, the dog may have found. The dog and its handler remained at the scene for about 20 minutes.

"This is a joint investigation and they are processing the material at the scene. And we will have to wait to find out whether that matches up with the autopsy (results)," Siecenski also said. It was not immediately known when an autopsy would be performed.

The Oct. 2 fatal fire is the first since the spring of 2006, according to Siecenski.

Updated: 12:55 p.m.

A Greenwich fire official has said the address of the Tuesday morning fatal fire, which was reported at 7:09 a.m., is 46 Havemeyer Ln. It is located at the corner of Havemeyer and MacArthur Drive.

"Because of the severity of the fire," all other information regarding the fire is being referred to Fire Chief Peter Siecenzski and Assistant Chief Robert Kick, who could not be reached for comment.

Updated, 11:03 a.m.

A 42 year-old man died as a result of the fire and an elderly woman was severely injured, according to Lt. Kraig Gray of the Greenwich Police Department.

The woman was transported to Stamford Hospital and later transferred to Bridgeport Hospital. The department is not releasing the identities of the victims or the exact street address pending notification of the incident to out-of-state relatives.

Gray told Patch that the fire was reported by a neighbor at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning. He added that firefigthers found the home in a rather "cluttered condition." The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and the department is not saying whether it is being considered suspicious.

Updated, 10:28 a.m.

The Greenwich Police Crime Scene Unit and an arson dog from the Connecticut State Fire Marshal's office is on the scene.

The two-story home with grey vinyl siding is on the corner of MacArthur Drive and Havemeyer Lane. Firefigthers cut through the roof of the home to extinguish the fire and a city dumpster can be seen sitting out front.

Original Story

Several Greenwich Fire Department units are still at the scene of a house fire on MacArthur Drive in Old Greenwich.

The fire was reported shortly before 7:15 a.m. Tuesday. MacArthur Drive is off Havemeyer Lane. According to fire and police radio dispatches, roads in the area are closed to enable firefighters to extinguish the fire.

At least two Greenwich Emergency Medical Service units also were at the scene. Two victims were reportedly taken to Stamford Hospital.

Greenwich Patch will have details as they become available.