Multiple fire departments respond to Stonington fire
Stonington — Multiple fire crews were needed Friday afternoon to extinguish a blaze that severely damaged a home at 14 L'Hirondelle Lane.
Heavy smoke could be seen in the area. The house was unoccupied at the time of the fire, police confirmed.
Stonington Police Captain Todd Olson said at least half of the house was destroyed in the fire.
The back of the house, which faces out onto a large lawn, showed signs of significant damage, particularly in several spots on the roof.
It took firefighters an hour to get the blaze under control.
Seth Wakeman, vice president of the Quiambaug Fire District, said he lives in the area and started smelling smoke around noon, and heard the fire alarms.
The house changed ownership two weeks ago, according to Wakeman, who said he didn't think the new homeowners had moved in yet.
Property records show that the house was sold on May 11, and lists the owner as a William R. Blair.
Wakeman said the closest fire hydrant to the house is about a half-mile away. He said the Quiambaug Fire Department needed the assistance of tankers from area towns to help battle the blaze.
Firefighters periodically were checked for smoke inhalation, a common practice, Olson said.
In addition to Quiambaug, the Stonington Borough, Mystic, Wequetequock, Ashaway, Pawcatuck, North Stonington and Center of Groton fire departments responded to the fire as well as emergency medical crews from Stonington and Lawrence + Memorial Hospital.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. No further details were available Friday night.
Editor's note: This version corrects the ambulance crews that responded.
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