Confusion about Location of CT House Fire Delays Response
By By Mary Biekert
Source The Day, New London, Conn.
Waterford -- A fire destroyed a two-story home at 127 Fog Plain Road late Sunday morning. Waterford Fire Services Director Bruce Miller said Sunday that homeowner Debra Collett was at work when the fire started.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Miller said that the home was fully engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived at the scene shortly before noon.
Miller said that because no one was home when the fire started and because it is set back from the road and up a small hill, neighbors didn't notice the fire until flames were visible from the road. Firefighters received the first call at 11:50 a.m.
"When we first got the call, no one could give us an address," Miller said, explaining that callers who were seeing smoke weren't sure where the fire was coming from. "But then a neighbor, who could clearly then see the flames, called and got us the correct address."
Miller said that after crews arrived to the scene, "the bulk of the fire was knocked down in 20 minutes."
As of 12:30 p.m., fire crews were still working to put out flames inside the home, as well as remaining hotspots. The home was still smoldering as of 1 p.m.
A neighbor who declined to be identified said he saw what he thought were flames originating from the first floor of the home and spreading upward.
All five of Waterford's fire departments responded to the scene, as well as New London and Naval Submarine Base fire departments.
Waterford Ambulance and police were also at the scene, as well as the Salvation Army.
Miller said a relative of Collett's had visited the home around 9 a.m. and said everything was fine at that point.
A nearby garage on the property was spared.
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