The Waterbury Times|Breaking News|Published April 7 2026 5:46AM
Update Apr 8, 2026 3:05PM
Mayor Pernerewski Directs Immediate Action Following Bennett Avenue Fire
(WATERBURY, CT) In response to the structure fire on Bennett Avenue and the reported issues with fire hydrant water flow, Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski, Jr. has directed immediate, coordinated action across multiple city departments to investigate the incident and implement safeguards to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The Mayor has formally instructed Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the insufficient water flow from hydrants at the scene of the fire. The investigation will examine what inspection and maintenance protocols should have been in place, what actions were taken, and how the city’s practices compare with federal, state, and local requirements, as well as industry best practices among similarly sized municipalities in Connecticut.
Concurrently, Mayor Pernerewski has directed Fire Chief Javier Lopez and Superintendent of Water Bradley Malay to work collaboratively on the development of a written, citywide action plan to immediately assess all fire hydrants. The plan will identify hydrants with insufficient water flow, outline steps to remediate any deficiencies, and establish procedures to ensure the Fire Department has real-time awareness of hydrant performance across the city.
The Fire Chief and Water Superintendent have also been tasked with confirming that operational contingency plans are in place for areas where water flow may be limited, ensuring that emergency response capabilities remain effective under all conditions. The Mayor has requested that this plan be submitted within one week.
“This situation demands swift and decisive action,” said Mayor Pernerewski. “Public safety is our highest priority. We are taking a hard look at our systems, holding ourselves accountable, and implementing the necessary measures to ensure our firefighters have the resources they need to respond effectively. We will learn from this and take every step required to make sure it does not happen again.”
The Bennett Avenue fire, which occurred shortly after midnight on Tuesday, resulted in significant property damage but no reported injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office.
UPDATE APR 7, 2026 2:28PM
April 7, 2026 — Press Conference at City Hall, Waterbury
“Dry Hydrant” issue during Monday overnight fire that destroyed a 2-family home and two vehicles.
Speaker: Paul Pernerewski Jr., Mayor of Waterbury
The Incident
- Fire occurred shortly after 12:00 AM Monday
- Structure: 2-family house + 2 vehicles destroyed
- Firefighters encountered a hydrant with inadequate flow (“dry hydrant” perception)
- Initial dispatch reportedly sent crews to the wrong Bradley Ave address, causing minutes of delay
- Mayor clarified: This was NOT caused by the recent water main break
- However, he acknowledged the underlying infrastructure issue is related
What the Mayor Explained About the Hydrant
Pressure vs. Water Supply
- This was NOT a “no water” situation
- It was a FLOW / PRESSURE problem
- System pressure cited: ~80 lbs
- Location was on a dead-end 6-inch water main
- Dead-end mains are more prone to low flow conditions
Hydrant Maintenance & Testing Gaps
- Waterbury has ~4,000 hydrants
- Hydrants are flushed annually (NFPA standard practice)
- 50–60 problem hydrants can be identified per year during flushing
- BUT: No formal pressure/flow testing program in place for 10–15 years
- Last known consistent testing: around 2015–2016
- Mayor: “Don’t know why the testing stopped.”
What Is Changing Now
New Hydrant Testing Program
- A new Waterbury testing crew is being formed
- Hydrants will be pressure/flow tested while being flushed
- Testing to occur once per year
Hydrant Color Coding (for firefighters)
Hydrant tops will be painted:
| Color | Meaning | Flow Level |
|---|---|---|
| 🔵 Blue | High flow | Strong hydrant |
| 🟢 Green | Medium flow | Adequate |
| 🔴 Red | Low flow | Problem / caution |
- Helps fire crews instantly identify hydrant capacity
- Cost per hydrant: ~20 minutes of labor
Infrastructure Reality
- City has 130 miles of 6-inch water piping
- Many lines are older and include dead-end sections
- These areas are most vulnerable to flow issues during fires
- Mayor emphasized: “This is rare. It doesn’t happen often.”
Dispatch Issue
- Separate issue: wrong Bradley Ave address initially dispatched
- Caused several minutes delay
- Being reviewed independently
The Homeowner’s Emotional Moment
An emotional homeowner spoke:
“My grandfather built it… everything is gone… I stood there upset. I pay my taxes. It’s not fair. I need to understand.”
This moment underscored the human cost behind the infrastructure explanation.
Stay Linked for more details_
Update Apr 7 2026 12:01PM
Waterbury- Waterbury Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. will hold a press conference Tuesday afternoon following the overnight fire on Bennett Avenue that raised concerns about water supply during the emergency response.
The briefing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at City Hall, where the mayor will be joined by Javier Lopez, Bradley Malay, and representatives from the Waterbury Fire Department.
City officials are expected to address the response to the fire at 152 Bennett Avenue, including hydrant performance, infrastructure concerns, and next steps.
Fire crews responded shortly after midnight to reports of a garage fire. The occupant was alerted by a neighbor and escaped safely with her dog.
The fire spread from the garage to two vehicles and into part of the home before being brought under control around 1:17 a.m. The structure sustained severe damage.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Overnight Fire Destroys Waterbury Home; Hydrant Issues Hamper Response
Updated April 7, 2026 9:30AM
Waterbury-A two-story home at 152 Bennett Avenue in Waterbury suffered heavy fire damage in the early hours of April 7 after firefighters faced significant water supply issues.
The Waterbury Fire Department received the call at 12:10 a.m. and dispatched Engines 11, 4, 8, Trucks 1 & 2, Rescue 9, and Car 5. Crews found the home and two vehicles already burning.
Initial attempts to fight the fire were hampered when hydrants in the area failed, forcing firefighters to adopt a defensive attack. Engines 6 and 2 were added to assist with water supply a few minutes into the blaze.
Firefighters brought the fire under control by 1:17 a.m. Officials say the home is likely a total loss.
Homeowner Heather Drapp, who was home alone with her dog, escaped safely. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and the Waterbury Fire Department is working with the city’s water bureau to address the hydrant issues.
***Original Reporting***
April 7 2026 5:46AM
Waterbury-A home on Bennett Avenue was destroyed in an overnight fire after firefighters encountered water supply issues.
The Waterbury Fire Department responded to 152 Bennett Avenue just after midnight and found the house already heavily engulfed in flames, along with two vehicles burning in the driveway.
Fire crews initially attempted to use two hydrants on Bennett Avenue, but both were insufficient. Additional hose lines had to be stretched hundreds of yards to reach hydrants on Fairfield Avenue, delaying firefighting efforts.
“Probably looked at 20 minutes, I’d say,” said Stephen Ayotte.
Fire officials say the home is likely a total loss. No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Stay Linked as this is a developing story.
More Waterbury News:
Waterbury Fire Crews Knock Down Bank Street Fire in Downtown Waterbury Friday Morning
Waterbury Water Department Announces 2026 Annual Fire Hydrant Flushing Program
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