New London — The Nov. 18 fire that led to the death of billionaire Tony Hsieh, the former CEO of online shoe retailer Zappos, was the third time city firefighters had visited Hsieh’s friend’s home at 500 Pequot Ave. over the span of two days.

Firefighters responded to the waterfront home on two occasions within the span of one hour on Nov. 16, fire department records show.

At 12:50 a.m. Nov. 16, firefighters were alerted to a smoke alarm in the basement of the home. Someone met firefighters at the door and told them the alarm was accidental and caused by cooking, according to a department report.

The second alarm came at 1:16 a.m. Firefighters arrived, noted there was no visible smoke or fire outside and were again told by a man at the door “there was no problem,” and he did not want fire crews to investigate the cause of the alarm, reports show.

This time, however, firefighters told the unidentified man they needed to take a look and assess the situation.  

“It was at this time we learned that the male was not the homeowner,” the incident report provided to The Day states. The home was purchased by Hsieh’s friend and former colleague Rachael Brown for $1.3 million over the summer.

Firefighters entered the basement to find “a slight smoke condition.”

“Also found were melted plastic items on the stove top along with cardboard that was hot to the touch. The stove was found to be off. A female appeared who stated that she was the homeowner,” the report states.

Firefighters report working with the woman, presumably Brown, on soaking all the items that were melted in a sink full of water.

Firefighters also found an “unattended candle burning in an unsafe location which was extinguished.” Fire department personnel provided safety tips to the homeowner while waiting around for the smoke to dissipate.

It would be two days later that firefighters responded again in the early morning hours to reports of smoke coming from a pool shed attached to the rear of the home. Firefighters forced their way into the shed and pulled out an unconscious Hsieh.

Hsieh, 46, was hospitalized and died on Nov. 27 due to complications of smoke inhalation.

The death was ruled accidental, but New London police continue an investigation into the circumstances of the fire, which include 911 calls reporting Hsieh was trapped and/or barricaded inside the attached pool shed.

Several media reports since Hsieh's death have painted the picture of a man coping with mental health and addiction issues. They also quoted friends and colleagues who said Hsieh frequently used "whippets," or the inhalation of nitrous oxide cartridges.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Hsieh had moved to Park City, Utah, earlier this year and, in addition to substance abuse issues, had a fascination with fire and was fixated, according to one of his friends, in trying to figure out what his body could live without.

“Mr. Hsieh at one point said he was going to a shed that was attached to the home (in New London), and asked the people in the house to check on him every five minutes…” the Wall Street Journal reported. “They said Tony used a heater in the shed to lower the oxygen level.”

g.smith@theday.com

t.hartz@theday.com