Naugatuck Woman In Critical Condition Following Apartment Fire

A Naugatuck woman was still in critical condition in the Burn Unit at Bridgeport Hospital Wednesday afternoon after sustaining burns in an apartment fire Tuesday.

Nancy San Angelo, who is in her 50s, was taken by ambulance to Waterbury Hospital after Naugatuck firefighters extricated her from the third floor of 68 Anderson St. around 5:30 p.m. Due to the extent of her injuries, she was quickly transferred to Bridgeport Hospital where she was listed in critical condition as of Wednesday afternoon, said John Cappiello, Bridgeport Hospital spokesman.

“Critical implies the patient is being watched very carefully,” he said.

San Angelo was the only person injured among roughly 27 people who live in the nine-apartment building.

She was rushed out of the building after Naugatuck Fire Capt. Richard Alfes and firefighter Jason Alford pulled her from the apartment. Residents evacuated the building and fire police cut off access to the street.

Flames were confined to San Angelo's apartment; other damage to the building was mostly smoke, soot and minimal water damage, said Fire Marshal Robert Weaver.

As of Wednesday evening, all of the apartment occupants except those who live on the third floor had been let back in, he said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation although it appears to be accidental, Weaver said. Both Weaver and investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the scene until late Wednesday.

“We’ve got a lot of theories (about the cause),” Weaver said. “It started in the living room. It’s actually only a three-room apartment. She didn’t make it as far as the door before she was overcome by smoke.”

San Angelo is the sister-in-law of former mayor, and current burgess candidate Ron San Angelo.