30 cats and 6 people were inside home that caught fire in Danielson, chief says

About 30 cats were inside a home that caught fire in Danielson on Monday morning, Danielson Fire Department Chief Kevin McNeill said.

Firefighters were dispatched to a reported working structure fire on Hawkins Street around 6:43 a.m. When they arrived, they found heavy fire in the front of the home. The call initially came in as a possible entrapment, but the victim had self-extricated by the time an ambulance arrived and was treated by EMS, according to McNeill.

McNeill said six people were inside the home when the fire started, and all made it out safely. People were also evacuated from neighboring buildings.

One person sustained burns and possible smoke inhalation and was flown to Bridgeport Hospital. No other civilian injuries were reported. One firefighter was evaluated at the scene for exhaustion and after a window came down on him. He was not taken to the hospital, McNeill said.

McNeill said there were about 30 cats inside the home. A firefighter and a medic rescued one cat, and the firefighter successfully revived the animal. The cat was then taken to a local veterinarian. McNeill said he does not yet know the condition or whereabouts of the other cats.

The home, which was built in 1903, previously served as a funeral home. Firefighters were told there were holes in portions of the flooring, creating additional hazards for crews. They were unable to make an interior attack because of concerns about the building’s structural stability, according to McNeill.

Because of those conditions, firefighters fought the fire from the outside and conducted a search from the back of the building to ensure no one remained inside.

“These sorts of fires are really hard to fight because of that,” McNeill said. “We proceeded with caution, and fortunately no one was injured.”

It took firefighters about an hour to bring the fire under control, and crews remained at the scene for several more hours, dousing hot spots, McNeill said.

Neighboring homes, including those across the street, were damaged by the fire, according to McNeill. The taillight of a nearby car appeared to melt from the fire

Fire departments from Killingly and other mutual aid departments also responded.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Killingly Fire Marshal and the state.

McNeill said it is not yet known whether the home had working smoke detectors or a fire suppression system.

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