New London — Firefighters rescued two people Tuesday who were trapped on their upper-level apartment decks by fire and smoke below.

The fire tore through one apartment and left several others units with smoke damage at the Nutmeg Woods complex at 175 Hawthorne Drive. An unknown number of people were displaced.

At 9:45 p.m., firefighters arrived to find fire in Unit 25J. Residents said a woman two units above the fire was screaming for help and trapped by smoke that had filled the building.

A New London police officer arrived and ran into the smoke-filled building in an attempt to reach the woman, according to Nutmeg Woods resident Lisa Crowley.

“He didn’t hesitate. He just ran right in,” Crowley said.

But he was forced back out by the thick smoke and on his knees coughing, she said.

Firefighters arrived and used a hand ladder to reach the woman and bring her to safety. On the backside of the same building, firefighters accessed the second-floor to rescue a man who was also trapped by the smoke, according to Fire Battalion Chief Ted Sargent.

The police officer and the woman where taken by ambulance to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for evaluation. The rescued man was treated at the scene.

Sargent said a firefighter sustained a foot injury at the scene and was also expected to be transported for treatment.

It was unclear late Tuesday if the apartment that burned was occupied. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

g.smith@theday.com

Twitter: @SmittyDay