Third-alarm Groton apartment complex fire injures 2 firefighters, displaces over 50 residents A massive fire erupted at the Ledges Apartments in Groton, Connecticut, on Sunday morning, forcing over 50 residents to evacuate their homes and injuring two firefighters. The incident, which began around 3 a.m., escalated to a third-alarm status by 3:07 a.m., prompting a coordinated response from more than a dozen fire departments. By 3:22 a.m., flames had spread to multiple floors, with heavy fire engulfing the attic space, creating a hazardous situation for both residents and emergency personnel. Residents described the chaos as they tried to escape the burning building. Avery, who was staying at the complex to celebrate a job promotion, recounted waking to people shouting for everyone to leave. “Imagine waking up in the middle of the night, trying to grab whatever you can and not being able to see because of smoke,” he said. The fire quickly spread to his building, forcing him and others to flee into the dark. Avery described seeing a “wall of fire” in the neighboring apartment and hearing a child scream for help, prompting him to call 911 repeatedly. Firefighters faced significant challenges due to the building’s construction. Fire Chief Jeffrey Rheaume explained that while the structure was equipped with an interior sprinkler system, the fire’s spread to the exterior walls and attic space rendered the system ineffective. “Once it gets into the attic, it can run the attic space, which is what happened here,” Rheaume said. The fire’s rapid progression made containment difficult, requiring over a dozen departments to work together for more than five hours to bring the flames under control. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries during the operation, though no residents were reported hurt.#red_cross #jeffrey_rheaume #groton_connecticut #ledges_apartments #avery
Two Firefighters Injured in Groton Apartment Fire A fire broke out at The Ledges Apartments in Groton, Connecticut, on Sunday morning, prompting a multi-department response and displacing dozens of residents. The blaze, which began around 3 a.m., was classified as a three-alarm fire by Poquonnock Bridge Fire District Chief Jeffrey Rheaume. Firefighters from 18 departments, including Norwich and Old Saybrook, worked to contain the flames, with Old Saybrook sending 12 firefighters to conduct interior searches and a tower ladder to assist with exterior operations. The building, which has 44 units, was left uninhabitable after the fire, with 43 units occupied at the time. Fire officials estimated that 60 people were displaced, though no residents were injured. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries during the incident. Residents described the rapid spread of the fire, which transitioned from red to blue and white flames within minutes. I’Asia Jones, a resident, recounted waking up to a fire alarm and her dog’s barking, noting the fire’s speed as unprecedented. Firefighters focused their efforts on preventing the fire from reaching the exterior walls and attic spaces, where it spread quickly. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with Rheaume noting that a resident reported a smoke detector going off, though it is unclear whether the alarm was triggered by smoke or electrical issues. The Red Cross is currently assisting displaced residents, helping them retrieve belongings from their units. While the building is deemed uninhabitable, efforts are underway to assess damage, with fire officials emphasizing that even units not directly affected by flames were damaged by smoke and water.#firefighters #the_ledges_apartments #groton_connecticut #jeffrey_rheaume #old_saybrook
