Norwich — A three-alarm fire Sunday on Roath Street destroyed one apartment house and damaged two adjacent houses and three vehicles, displacing 19 occupants from the three buildings and sending three firefighters to the hospital for heat-related issues.

The fire started at 1:37 p.m. on the exterior left side of the house at 48 Roath St. Flames had engulfed an exterior staircase and already were spreading quickly into the second floor and attic when the first crew from the Greeneville fire station arrived, Norwich Fire Chief Tracy Montoya said Monday.

All 13 on-duty Norwich firefighters responded, and a second and third alarm brought in units from the city’s five volunteer departments and surrounding towns. Fire spread to the roof and second floor of 52 Roath St. and damaged two cars and a motorcycle in the driveway between 46 and 48 Roath St., Montoya said.

Firefighters initially conducted a search of the first floor of the multi-family house at 48 Roath St., after reports that two residents were unaccounted for. No one was found, and fire officials and Norwich police confirmed all occupants had escaped unharmed.

Three firefighters were transported to the Backus Hospital with heat exhaustion. All were treated and released.

Montoya said Sunday afternoon’s temperatures in the 90s, the close proximity of the three houses, a number of vehicles in driveways and on the street and initial lack of personnel hindered the firefighting effort. Firefighters closed the street, which connects downtown and Greeneville, for easier access to the buildings.

“I want to give recognition to the cooperation and assistance of the mutual aid companies,” Montoya said.

Lee-Ann Gomes, director of Norwich Human Services, said the 19 people who were displaced included four children. The Red Cross provides hotel rooms initially for displaced families before they come to the city for assistance, Gomes said. She said some tenants had renters’ insurance, but not all.

“We really stress that tenants get renters’ insurance,” Gomes said. “Human Services cannot replace everything you lose.”

Nine fire departments, including all six Norwich departments and crews from New London, the U.S. Naval Submarine Base and Mohegan Tribal departments responded. Norwich Public Utilities shut off power, as firetruck towers and ladders were erected near power lines. The Salvation Army canteen provided supports for the firefighters and the local chapter of the American Red Cross assisted displaced families.

Montoya said no cause had been determined for the fire, and the city and state fire marshals’ offices, as well as Norwich police are investigating.

As smoke engulfed 48 Roath St., firefighters evacuated adjacent homes on either side at 46 and 52 Roath St.

Danny Lee, owner of the two-family house at 52 Roath St. said his tenants texted him shortly after 2 p.m. that they were evacuating their home. About 20 minutes later, they texted him again to say their house had caught fire.

“I’m just glad that everyone got out and there’s no loss of life and everyone is able to move on and pick up their lives after this experience,” Lee said. “It’s never good to have tragedy.”

Dan Coley, director of inspections for the city building department, said the house at 48 Roath St., owned by Reynold and Adeline Nelson, is “total loss.” Coley had not yet assessed the condition of 52 Roath St., and Lee said he was told by the fire marshal it could take a couple days before he will be able to enter the house to assess the damage. Lee was awaiting information from his insurance company and did not know if he would rebuild.

Chief Montoya and Coley said the exterior asbestos siding likely helped save the house at 46 Roath St., owned by Jose and Maria Tiburcio, but the vinyl windows and blinds inside the house melted from the heat of the nearby fire. Both said that house is reparable.

All three houses were built in the late 1800s, according to city tax records.

c.bessette@theday.com