New London — The American Red Cross is helping 12 people in 10 families after they were temporarily displaced by a Tuesday night fire that tore through one apartment and left several other units with smoke damage at the Nutmeg Woods complex at 175 Hawthorne Drive.

The Red Cross said they are providing five adults in five families with emergency housing, food and clothing. Seven adults in five families received help with emergency food and clothing. An additional two families did not request services.

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, but he was forced back because of the smoke. Firefighters used a ladder to rescue the woman. They also had to use an aerial ladder to rescue another person who was trapped on the upper floor.

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

Deputy Chief Peter Reichard said Wednesday the Officer John Green was treated and released from the hospital.

Battalion Chief Marc Melanson said Wednesday the apartment was occupied and the fire started in the kitchen area. He did not have further information as the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

On Wednesday, a notice was posted on the main door of Unit 25, which said tenants were not allowed to enter the building per the New London fire marshal. There are six apartments in that unit.

A woman who answered the phone at the Nutmeg Woods management office declined to comment on when the tenants would be allowed back in.

No further information is available at this time.