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Elderly Norwalk Woman Dies Who Was Caught In Fire In Ely Avenue Home

NORWALK, Conn. -- An elderly Norwalk woman who got trapped in a burning home on Ely Avenue on Wednesday died early Thursday morning.

Fire Inspector Kurt McDonald hands fire safety information to a resident following the fatal fire on Ely Avenue.

Fire Inspector Kurt McDonald hands fire safety information to a resident following the fatal fire on Ely Avenue.

Photo Credit: Casey Donahue
Firefighters visit several houses in the Ely Avenue/Knapp Street area, and said they will continue to canvass the neighborhood over the coming days.

Firefighters visit several houses in the Ely Avenue/Knapp Street area, and said they will continue to canvass the neighborhood over the coming days.

Photo Credit: Casey Donahue
The home where a first-floor fire trapped an elderly bedridden woman inside Wednesday.

The home where a first-floor fire trapped an elderly bedridden woman inside Wednesday.

Photo Credit: Casey Donahue

Fire officials could not release much information about the victim and said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

Members of the Norwalk Fire Department returned to the Ely Avenue neighborhood Thursday morning to knock on doors and spread information about fire safety to area residents.

"After every fatal fire we like to case the neighborhood around where it happened," said Fire Inspector Luca Feola. They spoke to residents, handing out fliers in English and Spanish about fire safety plans, and made sure that each house had a working fire detector.

The house that caught fire Wednesday did have a working fire detector.

Feola said the department was also partnering with the Red Cross to distribute and install fire detectors in April. Many people fail to replace batteries or remove their detector if it goes off while they're cooking, but he said that it is very important to have working fire detectors in your home.

The firefighters also spread other information about what residents should do in the event of a fire.

"We try to tell them to keep their exits clear so they can get out, and to be wary of family members in the house," Feola said. "A lot of it is the same thing we tell kids in October during Fire Safety Month. We tell them to have a space outside to meet, don't call 911 from inside the house, go outside and call from a neighbor's house or use your cellphone. Practice escape plans."

Fire Inspector Kurt McDonald was busying knocking on doors and handing out fliers and even fire safety coloring books for kids.

"We like to cover all the bases. Even at a young age, they're never too young to learn fire safety," McDonald said. Resident they talked to were appreciative of the effort. "Most people within the neighborhood know about yesterday's fire, so a lot of them are looking for answers on how they can keep themselves safe and their neighborhood safe."

“Every fatal fire has an impact on the Fire Department and our deepest sympathies are with their families,” said Fire Chief Denis McCarthy “Unfortunately, these tragic events serve as reminders that residents must have working smoke detectors, leave the home immediately, and call 911 immediately if there is a fire. Public safety is my No. 1 priority and the department is committed to doing all we can to ensure that all residents are safe.”

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