Home Care In Bridgeport, CT

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- A fire and explosion at a hazardous waste plant in Bridgeport, Connecticut, forced people to evacuate their homes.

Neighbors heard the explosion and saw a plume of smoke filling the air over the plant just after 2 p.m. Friday.

Fire officials said the building belongs to Tradebe Environmental, a company that disposes and recycles hazardous waste.

Tradebe Environmental confirmed one of their tanks exploded and further say they are cooperating and working closely with first responders and regulators.

"It appears there was some type of offload of a low-grade oxidizer at the time, about ,4000 gallons, and somewhere along the line, the first explosion occurred," said Bridgeport Fire Chief Lance Edwards.

Officials say three people were injured and sent to local hospitals. Two were being treated for burns and one was being treated for smoke inhalation.

Fire marshals said the building was secure and residents were allowed back into their homes. Air quality testing proved the air was safe.

"Right away we worked closely with Bridgeport PD and they were able to at least notify the residents on the closed streets here to shelter in place, and anyone that was outside, we're able to get them to a cold zone until we're able to monitor the air quality ... and DEEP was able to confirm that it was safe to be outside, but we wanted to take proactive measures," Edwards said.

Into the night, Bridgeport fire crews remained on the scene.

Some living nearby heard and felt the explosion.

"It was like, it shook you. It shook the car. It shook your body. It was just like a really-- I had never heard anything like it before," resident Patricia Ocasio said.

"Me and my son, we just left. We saw the fire, the smoke," resident Valerie Williams said. "I told my son to get his clothes, put on his shoes, get the dog."

Residents were told to continue staying indoors with their windows closed.

Officials are also monitoring the pH levels in the water runoff and are asking residents to avoid walking through puddles in the area.

"My concerns are, will it happen again?" resident Luz Ocasio said. "Now, we are really scared with that boom, that could have exploded and everything could've fallen on here."

The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

Along the picturesque shores of Long Island Sound, Bridgeport, Connecticut, presents a blend of cultural heritage, industrial echoes, and contemporary aspirations. Residents embrace a mosaic of traditions, a thriving arts scene, and access to recreational offerings amid ongoing revitalization efforts. So whether you’re searching for apartments in Bridgeport, homes for sale, or want to learn more about what Bridgeport is known for, this Redfin article will be your guide.

1. Beardsley Zoo

Bridgeport is known for being home to the Beardsley Zoo, the only zoo in Connecticut. The zoo features a variety of animals, including endangered species, and offers educational programs and events for visitors. It’s a popular destination for animal lovers, providing a unique opportunity to learn about wildlife conservation and biodiversity.

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Known as “Park City”, Bridgeport has many beautiful green spaces and parks. With over 1,300 acres of parkland, including Seaside Park along the Long Island Sound, residents and visitors alike enjoy ample opportunities for outdoor activities. The city’s commitment to preserving and expanding green areas has solidified its reputation as a haven for nature enthusiasts and families seeking recreational adventures.

3. Industrial history

Bridgeport boasts a storied industrial legacy, recognized for its pivotal role in America’s manufacturing history. As a hub for innovation and production, the city thrived with iconic companies like Remington Arms and the famed Singer sewing machines. This industrial prowess shaped Bridgeport’s skyline and left an enduring imprint on the nation’s economic and technological landscape.

4. Seaside attractions

From the sprawling Seaside Park offering panoramic views and recreational spaces to Pleasure Beach, an idyllic stretch accessible by ferry, the city’s coastal charm offer opportunities for beachside relaxation, water activities, and serene picnics by the waterfront. The allure of Bridgeport’s seaside gems invites exploration and rejuvenation amid the soothing rhythms of the Sound.

5. PT Barnum

Bridgeport proudly claims the legacy of P.T. Barnum, the legendary showman whose imprint on the city remains indelible. As the co-founder of the famous Barnum & Bailey Circus, Barnum’s larger-than-life spirit echoes through the streets, celebrated in the Barnum Museum, and various tributes that honor his life and contributions. His enduring presence fascinates and inspires, leaving an unmistakable mark on Bridgeport’s culture.

6. Transportation hub

Bridgeport has long served as a vital transportation nexus, connecting diverse communities and industries through its strategic location. The city is a gateway to New England and beyond since it’s situated along major highways, with access to rail lines and ferries. Its historical significance as a transportation hub continues to shape its identity, fostering connectivity and facilitating movement, making Bridgeport a pivotal crossroads for regional travel and commerce.

Some areas of Connecticut could see up to a foot of snow this weekend.

Information from the City of Bridgeport:

BRIDGEPORT, CT — In anticipation of the pending snowfall due to impact Bridgeport, Mayor Joe Ganim is declaring a snow emergency for the city to take effect at 6:00 PM Saturday, January 6th. During a snow emergency, residents must move their cars off posted snow emergency streets and heed alternate side of street parking on all other streets. Snow emergency streets are marked with white signs with red lettering. A list of snow streets can be found on the City’s website bridgeportct.gov/snow

ForecastThe City of Bridgeport anticipates snow will begin Saturday night into Sunday afternoon. The storm predicted to bring 2” to 5” of wet heavy snow mix, with icy conditions that could occur.

For more information, visit bridgeportct.gov/snow

Emergency Operation Plan is in effect with enforcement of No Parking on Snow Emergency streets to ensure that plows and public safety crews can clear the streets. On all other non-emergency streets, residents must heed alternate side of the street parking: January 6th is an EVEN number day; therefore, residents should park on the side of the street with addresses that are EVEN numbers. After the snow emergency operation plan goes into effect at 6:00 PM on January 6, 2024, vehicles that are not following parking restrictions will be subject to fines and towing. The easiest way to tell the ODD- or EVEN- numbered side of a street is to check the street address of buildings. If the address ends in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) then that building is on the ODD side of the street. If the address ends in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) then that building is on the EVEN side of the street.

Find out what's happening in Bridgeportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Snow Emergency Parking Lots – In the event that parking is not available for residents on non-emergency streets, Snow Emergency Parking Lots will be open to the public for parking which include all school parking lots in their district and the Health Department parking lot at 752 East Main Street.

Parking in the school and City parking lots listed will be permitted and must be removed by Monday morning

Vehicles Towed for Public Safety Enforcement – Owners of vehicles that do not comply with the parking ban on emergency streets or alternate side of street parking will have their vehicle towed and incur a minimum $130 towing fee.

Sidewalks/ Driveways - Commercial and/or residential owners who push snow into the streets or do not clear snow on the sidewalks in front of their buildings are subject to a $100.00 fine per ordinance for each incident.

Adopt a Hydrant – residents are encouraged to clear snow and make a path to a fire hydrant in their neighborhood to assist the Bridgeport Fire Department in case of fire or another emergency.

Plowing – Bridgeport Streets within the City are prioritized to clear major travel routes first. This allows public safety vehicles access to most parts of the City. The initial plowing activities also provide most residents a clearing within two to three blocks of their homes and most destinations in the City. Other factors include locations of schools, hospitals, major commercial centers, and other facilities with large public interest. For snow plowing issues, call 203-579-3800.

Any plowing issues or concerns can be reported using the mobile application Bridgeport 311.

Operation Care – To help protect the homeless population from unsafe temperatures, please call 2-1-1. The homeless Outreach Team has begun contacting the homeless population to connect them to shelters such as Prospect House, Bridgeport Rescue Mission, and Alpha Community. For any homeless issues, you can show up at 650 Park Avenue for assistance.

Public Facilities – January 6th

Transfer Station will close at noon

Parks will be closed

Snow Related EmergenciesDuring the storm, residents may call the Bridgeport Emergency Operations Center hotline at 203-579-3800 with any snow-related emergencies or email pictures to [email protected]

If residents suffer a loss of electricity, call the United Illuminating customer hotline at 800-722-5584. Both numbers are for 24-hour emergency service.

Immediate danger to life and health issues, call 9-1-1.

For the latest updates and information about the snowstorm, residents are asked to check Bridgeportct.gov/snow, local media and follow the City of Bridgeport on Twitter and Facebook.

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More from Bridgeport

Officials are looking to modernize and update the city's Charter.

Information from the City of Bridgeport:

BRIDGEPORT, CT — [On Wednesday], City Council President Nieves, in collaboration with and strong support of Mayor Ganim and other Council members, submitted a resolution to initiate a Charter revision process here in the City of Bridgeport. After many discussions, a consensus has built around the need to modernize and update the Bridgeport City Charter, and to have a Charter Revision Commission examine complex issues regarding needed changes to civil service, the role and makeup of city commissions, among many other issues.

This resolution is expected to be referred to the Ordinance Committee for consideration at Tuesday’s full City Council meeting. Within 30 days of final passage of the Council’s initiation of the Charter revision process, the Council must adopt a resolution establishing a Charter Revision Commission of between 5 and 15 members, not more than one-third of whom may hold public office in the City, and not more than a bare majority of whom shall be members of any one political party.

Once the Commission has been formed, it is the expectation that the Commission will conduct several public hearings in order to get feedback from residents of Bridgeport on recommended changes to the Charter.

“I want to thank President Nieves and the Council members that have engaged with me on the need for Charter revision,” stated Mayor Ganim. “I believe strongly that the Commission should take its time in working through these complex Charter issues and that the Commission creates as many opportunities for public participation and input as possible. Ultimately, I am hopeful that a collaborative effort between the Administration, City Council, the public, and the Charter Revision Commission will yield a final product that Bridgeport voters will stand behind.”

“I have been and continue to be a strong advocate for Charter revision,” stated Council President Aidee Nieves. “I am grateful to the Mayor and my Council colleagues for agreeing that it is time to update and modernize our Charter here in Bridgeport. The issues that the Commission will take up will be complex and will require a significant amount of input from stakeholders. But I believe that a thorough process will result in a positive Charter change for our city.”

“As a strong supporter of Charter revision, it is my hope that this will be a deliberative, thoughtful, and community-based process,” stated Councilman Scott Burns. “There are several interesting and challenging issues for the Commission to consider. I look forward to seeing the changes that they will bring back to the Council after careful consideration and public input.”

“As someone who has been through Charter revision in the past, I want to emphasize the importance of this process and the need for the public’s input,” stated Councilman Ernest Newton. “Charter revision is a process that happens infrequently, so I encourage the Commission to be thoughtful and carefully consider all of the many Charter issues that it will be presented with as their work will impact the City for many years to come.”

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BRIDGEPORT — Five years ago this week city officials abruptly announced they would raze and replace the Charles F. Greene Homes, an aged low income public housing complex where sanitation and maintenance issues and violence impacted tenants' quality-of-life.

“It’s easy to say they’re going to knock down buildings,” Richard Pezzella, the then-vice president of the residents’ board, said back in late 2018 in response. "It's easier said than done."

He turned out to be right. In fact the actual planning is only just starting to get underway thanks to a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded in late October.

Meanwhile City Councilman Jorge Cruz, who represents the neighborhood, has been fielding complaints from people living in Greene Homes about some of the same problems that had city officials first pledging to pursue a rebuild in November, 2018 — drug dealing, broken elevators, and urination and defecation in the hallways.

"I'm frustrated. The tenants are frustrated," Cruz said Friday. "They're anxious. Feeling uncertain."

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Jillian Baldwin is director of Bridgeport's public housing authority, Park City Communities, which manages Greene Homes — also dubbed "The Greenes" — and other low-income developments around town. She was hired in June, 2020 and so inherited the effort to vacate, tear-down and rebuild the 270-unit complex, located on Highland Avenue, not too far from downtown and adjacent to the authority's offices.

"The authority, from an internal standpoint, was in no position to apply for and really manage a demolition disposition process," Baldwin said in a recent interview, arguing to do so would have been an irresponsible "rush."

She explained that she and her team "had an obligation to stabilize operations first." That meant making greater strides to emerge from the "troubled" status that HUD, which helps fund and oversee Park City Communities, assigned the agency in 2014 for its management, finances and infrastructure.

According to HUD, Park City has, by just a few points, received an updated "standard" grade, but the rating for its structures remains "substandard."

Beginning under then-Mayor Bill Finch and continuing under his successor, Joe Ganim, who was elected in 2015, the housing authority has slowly been partnering with private developers to rebuild some of its complexes — namely the former Father Panik and Marina Village — into mixed-income housing, which is considered a more successful model.

That is the goal for Greene Homes. But besides being delayed by the need to right internal authority operations, Baldwin said progress has been hampered by two other issues. One of those is settling a nearly $3 million, decade-old debt.

"The authority participated in an energy performance program where, portfolio-wide, they took out loans to install energy efficient upgrades," Baldwin said. "Those debts have to be satisfied before we can take down The Greenes."

HUD confirmed that Park City Communities has to submit "a plan for how they would handle their energy performance contract debt."

The authority also faced a setback in its efforts to obtain a redevelopment partner. She said the original front-runner, chosen in 2021, "had a different vision" for a new 500-unit complex.

"The housing authority just couldn't get behind that concept with all the issues we've had because of overpopulation and density," Baldwin said.

Park City this past July found another collaborator — MDG Real Estate Partners out of New York. The company's website describes it as "a leading affordable housing-only contracting and development firm specializing in the rehabilitation and new construction of affordable residential apartment buildings."

Baldwin said the authority and MDG are "in the middle of negotiations" over their partnership for Greene Homes.

Which leads to the $500,000 grant, which, Baldwin said, would help fund a two-year planning process between the authority, the co-developer, tenants and the wider community.

"At the end of that the authority will have a transformational plan for the Charles F. Greene Homes that has garnered the buy-in of our residents (and) all of the stakeholders around us," she said.

Baldwin added qualifying for the grant also puts Park City Communities in a position to receive additional HUD dollars for the future The Greenes.

"This is something we cannot rush through. Development of a community takes a while," she said. "We're talking multiple phases and multi-million dollars and the lives of our residents."