NORWICH, CT - At 5:25 P.M. on Tuesday, October 15th, the Norwich Fire Department with East Great Plain Ladder 5, Yantic Engine 33 and an American Ambulance were dispatched to 83 Summit Street for a house fire with a child trapped. Norwich Dispatch immediately transmitted the working fire with multiple 911 calls, which added East Great Plain Rescue 5 and the Mohegan Tribal FAST.

Battalion 1 and Engine 3 arrived at 5:28 P.M., reporting a large volume of fire from the front of the first-floor with a power line down in the street. Engine 3 stretched a one-and-three-quarter-inch hose line through the front door and pushed inside. Truck 1 set up on the A/D corner and the driver provided horizontal ventilation, while the two other members performed the primary search. The truck crew made access through the rear and ascended the interior stairs. Both members aggressively searched while using a can to hold back the fire that was coming up the stairs at them. 

Squad A established the water supply and then stretched a one-and-three-quarter-inch hose line through the back door. Engine 2 deployed a ground ladder on the Charlie side and used the “vent, enter, search” tactic to search a bedroom. Truck 1 found an unresponsive victim in a rear bedroom and exited the structure with her at 5:36 P.M.

American Paramedics immediately started life-saving measures and transported the victim to Backus Hospital. East Great Plain and Yantic performed overhaul and the secondary searches. A second patient was also transported later on to Backus for smoke inhalation. 

Car 1 had command while Battalion 1 was operations. The American Red Cross is assisting the family that was displaced. The Norwich Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating with assistance from the Connecticut Fire and Explosives Investigative Unit. 

Unfortunately, a young child perished from this devastating fire. Our hearts go out to the family as they mourn one of their own from such a tragic incident.