Landscaper Severely Injured In Fire At Milford Business

MILFORD, CT — A landscaper was severely injured after his mower hit a gas line and ignited a fire at a building on Bic Drive in Milford on Monday morning, FOX 61 first reported.

Emergency crews received reports around 9 a.m. of a truck fire and gas leak at 500 Bic Drive in Milford. Crews were at the scene within five minutes and found a gas leak and heavy fire at Building 4, according to fire officials.

“The individual was doing landscaping and struck the gas piping that entered the building,” officials wrote in a news release. “Immediately, the leaking gas ignited, causing severe burns to the person.”

The landscaper was treated at the scene and taken to the Bridgeport Hospital Burn Center by Milford Fire Department Paramedics, according to officials.

“Other crews quickly deployed several water streams from fire hoses to extinguish the fire and protect the surrounding area,” officials wrote. “The Southern CT Gas Company was requested to the scene to help manage the incident. Firefighters used chemical metering devices to determine levels of flammable gas inside and outside of the five buildings nearby. As a precaution, approximately 300 people were evacuated from these buildings.

“The Southern CT Gas Company personnel needed to shut off the gas pipe from the street, and those crews worked safely and effectively to mitigate the leaking gas quickly.”

Officials said Building 4 sustained moderate damage to the exterior and some smoke damage inside the structure.

There were no injuries to any firefighters, according to fire officials.