Truck Fire Involving Acetylene Cylinders Safely Contained by Stamford Firefighters

Truck Fire Involving Acetylene Cylinders Safely Contained by Stamford Firefighters

[Stamford, Connecticut] – At approximately 10:38 AM on Friday, April 23, 2026, Stamford firefighters responded to a report of a truck fire at the gas station located at 243 West Avenue. Upon arrival, firefighters found a contractor’s pickup truck with a fire in the rear bed that had been extinguished. Further investigation found that the fire involved two acetylene cylinders, which were now leaking gas. Several additional propane and nitrogen cylinders were stored in the truck’s bed.

Additional resources were requested for traffic and scene perimeter control from the Stamford Police Department and the Connecticut State Police. Stamford Emergency Medical Services provided a paramedic ambulance for standby at the scene.

Due to the volatile nature of acetylene gas, firefighters quickly established a safe perimeter and developed a plan to secure the damaged acetylene cylinders. Firefighters used the contractor’s truck to relocate the damaged cylinders to a nearby city park off Brown House Road, where they safely discharged the remaining acetylene from the cylinders. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Officers were also at the scene to assist and oversee the operation.

The incident was brought under control in approximately 30 minutes.

The driver of the truck was able to exit the vehicle safely, and no injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported. As a precaution, nearby residents were advised to remain clear of the area while operations were underway.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Stamford Fire Marshal’s Office. The Stamford Fire Department reminds residents and contractors to exercise extreme caution when transporting compressed gas cylinders and to follow all manufacturer and safety guidelines.

“This was a potentially dangerous situation in a very busy and congested intersection within the City of Stamford. Thanks to the quick actions of our firefighters with assistance from our partner agencies, the incident was brought under control safely and without any injuries.” ~ Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Palmer

For additional incident information, please contact:

Deputy Chief Matthew Palmer at 203-977-4654

Photos available for media use (Credit to: Stamford Fire Department Photo)