NORWICH, CT - At 6:09 P.M. on Monday, March 27th, the Norwich Fire Department with East Great Plain Ladder 5 & Rescue 5, Yantic Engine 33, Laurel Hill Engine 62, Mohegan Tribal FAST and an American Ambulance, were dispatched to 23 McKinley Avenue for a fire on the second floor. Battalion 1 arrived at 6:13 P.M. with heavy fire from two windows in the rear of the second floor.

Squad A stretched a one-and-three-quarter inch line to the rear, while Engine 3 hand jacked supply line to the hydrant. Engine 2 stretched a one-and-three-quarter inch hose line through the front door and up the stairs. Squad A then performed the primary search which was negative. Engine 3 stretched a second line to the second floor and assisted with opening up. Truck 1 threw ground ladders and flew the aerial to the front. The Truck Company cut the roof to perform vertical ventilation in the rear.

Engine 62 and Ladder 5 assisted with overhaul. Engine 33 did the secondary search and removed oxygen cylinders from the residence. Rescue 5 used their cascade to fill air cylinders on scene. Crews had the bulk of the fire knocked down in 15 minutes and remained on scene for a while opening up. Norwich Public Utilities and the Norwich Police Department also assisted on scene. The American Red Cross assisted the people that were displaced and the Norwich Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.