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While responding to multiple emergency calls at about 7:35 a.m. Saturday, the Fairfield Fire Department heard directly from the manager of the Gym at Southport Athletic at 226 Old Post Road in Southport, who reported a fire on the roof.
The building, formerly known as the Southport Racquet Club, was occupied and classes were in session at the time of the fire, said a statement from Assistant Fire Chief Scott R. Bisson.
Fire Lt. Lee Corbo, who had just gotten off duty from working the previous night shift, was driving by in his private vehicle and also saw the flames, Bisson said. Corbo stopped, entered the building and helped the manager to evacuate all the occupants before fire crews arrived moments later.
No injuries were reported. Only moderate smoke condition were found inside the building while flames and smoke continued to build on the roof, Bisson said.
Engine 4 arrived and reported visible fire shooting the roof of the building, he said.
Both ground and aerial ladders were used to gain access to the roof, and a hose line was advanced for fire control, Bisson said.
Firefighters accessed the roof and found two separate natural gas line fires on the roof in an area where repair work was performed earlier in the week, he said.
Additional fire units established a water supply with a fire hydrant, shut off the utilities and opened up the roof materials to extinguish the hidden fire and to bring hose lines into the building to prevent further fire damage.
"We were very lucky to receive early notification of this fire from alert commuters before interior smoke detectors were activated," Bisson said. "The fire damaged the roof of the building along with gas and electric utilities requiring repair but most portions of the business are still able to operate at a limited capacity while these repairs are being performed.”
During the fire, additional crews placed protective salvage covers inside the building to prevent water damage to interior wood floors.
The occupants were allowed back inside to collect their belongings.
The building official and fire marshal were called to investigate the origin and cause of the fire, but it is not considered suspicious.
Mutual aid departments and off-duty personnel were also called in to assist with covering Fairfield fire stations and additional emergency calls during the fire.
The scene was cleared at 10:29 a.m.
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