Shelton fire marshal on Latex: Drying machines sprinkler system didnt go on

The sprinkler system didnt go on for the mattress-drying machine where the early morning fire started last week at the Latex Foam International factory in Shelton.

Firefighters at the scene of the Latex Foam International fire in Shelton on the morning of June 26.

What led to the spread of the fire was that the separate sprinkler system didnt activate, said Shelton Fire Marshal James Tortora. This was a secondary system just for that machine.

Tortora said the main buildings overall sprinkler system did work, and combined with firefighting efforts helped to ensure the fire didnt destroy the entire building. The fire did spread through the vent system onto the main factory floor and threaten the roof, before firefighters began pouring water on it from the outside.

The fire began just before 1 a.m. on the morning of Thursday, June 26 in the basement in the very rear of the main building at 510 River Road (Route 110).

Tortora was finally able to get inside the building on early Friday morning, after about 150,000 gallons of water were pumped out of the basement. The water came from firefighting hoses and the sprinkler system.

(Photo from Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Companys Facebook page)

The damage was confined primarily to the drying machine, with some related heat damage to the area in the immediate vicinity, Tortora said.

There was no structural damage and the roof is secure, he said.

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Shelton fire marshal on Latex: Drying machines sprinkler system didnt go on