New Haven Independent

“It smelled heavy, bad and nasty, like you better get the hell out of there,” said D’Urso (pictured), an immigration lawyer.

She called 911 to report a fire at her office, 35 Elm St. at about 12:30 p.m. on Friday.

Within seven to eight minutes, firefighters were on the scene. Three fire engines, a squad car and a truck responded. Traffic on Elm Street was shut down while the fire crews set to work.

It turned out to be a minor fire. By 1:45 p.m., firefighters had reopened the building and left the scene. No injuries are reported.

The three-story building is home to offices for attorneys, appraisers, and a charity.

The fire was started by workers who were using blow-torches to repair a rear roof, according to Fire Chief Michael Grant. Damage was minimal.

In the rear of the building, firefighters climbed up two ladders to the roof. Officer Terrance Rountree took a chainsaw to the roof to release smoke from the building and see if anything was still on fire. More firefighters stood ready with long-handled axes.

Out front, a small crowd from 35 Elm St. waited on the sidewalk around 1:20 p.m. as firefighters entered the building.

Attorney Norbert Church (at right in photo with firefighter Kevin Owens) said he tried to get in the building to save a couple computers. Firefighters wouldn’t let him in, but they promised they’d lay down tarps if they had to use water inside.

D’Urso clutched her textbook, Parliamo Italiano, which she had used to prepare for an exam she was supposed to take at Gateway Community College today. She said she was ready for the exam — though now she has a pretty good excuse to miss it. Her car keys remained inside the smoke-filled building, she said.