Connecticut – A three-alarm fire displaced multiple families, totaling 13 people, on Saturday afternoon in Norwalk.
According to the Norwalk Fire Department, crews responded at 4:22 p.m. to a blaze at the two-and-a-half story multi-family residence at 187 Ely Ave.
Firefighters observed “a significant column of smoke visible from several blocks away” and reported “a heavy fire showing from the side and rear of the structure, with smoke pushing from all floors,” according to the Norwalk Fire Department.
Crews transmitted a third alarm to bring in additional personnel after receiving a report of possible trapped occupants. They positioned the initial attack line at the rear of the building, where the “main body of the fire was located,” and added second and third hose lines, according to the Norwalk Fire Department.
The fire department “encountered challenges with the initial hydrant supplying Engine 5 and Engine 4 secured a secondary hydrant and supplemented the water supply to support ongoing fire attack operations,” according to the Norwalk Fire Department.
Before firefighters arrived, a 14-year-old girl escaped the building by jumping from a second-floor window, firefighters said. She was transported to the hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Also before firefighters arrived, a “neighboring resident” helped the teen’s mother out of the building using a ladder.
Crews rescued one dog from the first floor of the residence, while a second dog escaped with residents before firefighters arrived. The American Red Cross assisted the 13 displaced residents, according to the Norwalk Fire Department.
Fire companies from Stamford and New Canaan also responded to the scene, and Rowayton, Westport and Fairfield provided mutual aid with citywide coverage during the incident.
Crews evaluated two firefighters for heat-related exhaustion and transported one firefighter to Norwalk Hospital for treatment, according to the Norwalk Fire Department.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Norwalk Fire Marshal’s Office, according to the Norwalk Fire Department.