Updated.  Scroll down for Fire Chief’s press conference recap. 
Update #3:  No casualties.  See below.

A MASSIVE FIRE IN A NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, APARTMENT BUILDING has destroyed more than 100 units of the complex.

WTNH image

The fire broke out around 1:25 am Saturday morning.  Shortly after the FD arrived on the scene the entire building complex became involved in the fire which rapidly escalated to 6 alarms.  The fire chief said that the fire was in the roof area when they arrived and it had spread throughout the connected buildings.

Of the approx. 150 residents, 20 were known to be disabled.  At the time of the early reports only about 80 of the occupants had been accounted for.

New Haven Channel 8 has a good early VIDEO.
update:  Ch. 8 has just added helicopter video on the same page.
The New London Day has the initial REPORT.

Update, 9:30 am:  As of 8:30 am there were still 70 people unaccounted for.

This aerial view shows the large U-shaped complex  of more than 20 connected buildings that each contained 6 apartment units.  The center courtyard is filled with large trees and prevented the FD any access to the rear of the buildings.  They were built with a common attic area which, as was mentioned above, directly led to the rapid fire spread.

Update #2, 11:30 am:
At a 10 am press conference, Fire Chief Ken Scandariato presented the following information:

When FD arrived there were already two of the structures fully involved.  The residents were self-evacuating and many calling for help.  The building smoke detectors and fire alarms were all operating and sounding.

The initial fire attack was directed to trying to contain the fire while most of the firefighters went throughout the complex warning residents and conducting a primary search.  They were able to conduct a primary search in every unit that was not already involved.

There were approx. 150 residents, but only 105 have been accounted for so far.  A secondary search was only carried out on 31 units because all the others have been destroyed.

There were at least 13 engine companies on the scene and at one point there were 10 master streams in service.

Assoc. Press

The debris is still too hot to bring search and cadaver dogs in to the scene.  There has been only one civilian injury reported and that was non-fire related.  There have been no FF injuries so far.

Firefighters continue to cool down the fire debris
of the Peachtree Garden Apartments complex before
rescue teams and cadaver dogs can begin searching.
(AP / Geo. Ruhe photo)

The origin of the fire is believed to be in the rear at one of the building corners.  The fire got up into the roof which was a decorative hip roof built over a flat roof.  There were no fire stops inside the roof structure.

The State Fire Marshal has request assistance from the ATF and the fire department units expect to be on the scene for another 36 hours.

New London Day photo

Update #3, Sunday 6 am:
Every resident except for one has been accounted for, all of them safe and uninjured.  The one that has not been contacted is believed to have already moved out of the building and currently there is no official concern for his well-being.

A complete wrap-up of the fire is in the New London Day HERE.

A large photo gallery that includes pictures taken during the early stages of the fire can be found at New London County Fire Photos website HERE.  They also have an aerial view of the complex before the fire that shows the side C restrictions.

NLC Fire Photos/Ladd

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