Large Explosion in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Causes 'Many' Injuries, Mayor Says

A fire that broke out after an explosion near a Connecticut oil refinery injured at least two people and sent smoke billowing into the sky on Friday, December 29, officials said.

Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim said “many people” were hurt after a large explosion sparked a fire on Friday afternoon, which he later clarified as at least two people. The fire was burning at Tradebe Environmental Services, as confirmed by Standard Oil Vice President David Cohen and a city official quoted by local media.

The street was evacuated and residents told to shelter in place and wear masks if outside, according to the mayor.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was responding to the incident, according to local reports. Credit: City of Bridgeport, CT via Storyful

Video transcript

JOE GANIM: Yeah, hi. It's me, Joe Ganim. I'm wearing a mask. The Willow and Cross Street, as you can see, the smoldering of the fire.

Presumably, at this point, I think an oil fire, it caused a large explosion that many people heard. This street was evacuated all the way down to Frankie's Diner, but now it's referred to now as shelter in place. In other words, residents can come back in. There still remains some uncertainty but less concerns about the smoke or plume that's coming off of the site.

But you can see firefighters hitting with water pretty hard. There's mutual aid in place, from what I'm told. Fire chief, police chief, and health director are all on site or en route. We've been reported that there are, I've heard, two injuries, but beyond that, it looks mostly like and, God willing, still early to tell a lot. A chemical fire consuming property, with less likely of a greater risk of life at this point, from the information that we know.

So I want to thank the firefighters that are behind us. You see them-- if you get to see later on, Bridgeport Police Department, emergency services, ambulatory services have all been deployed. You can see the fire hose on the road. So I just want to thank our first responders, our responders, for all they're doing here.

I ask residents, if you're not in this area, you don't have to be in this area, not to be in this area. Again, this is Willow and Cross Street, near Frankie's Diner. Barnum Avenue is directly as I point.

So stay out of this area. Let the departments do what they need to do. Let the residents at least have a little bit of less of this crowds gathering. Let things settle out here, and we'll update you with reports, and thanks so much.