Five people have been displaced after fire broke out at a condo complex in Torrington early Monday morning, killing at least one of three cats that were reported missing after the blaze.
Emergency responders received a call for help around 2:20 a.m. and rushed to the scene at 601 Essex Court, where smoke was pouring from the corner unit.
"When we arrived on scene we saw fire showing from the street side of this exterior, fire was inside the walls of this dwelling," said Torrington Deputy Fire Chief Christopher Pepler.
Authorities say it couldn't have come at a worse time, as the weather hampered efforts to get the stubborn fire under control.
”It was pretty difficult, the weather gave us some challenges. We waited a little longer than usual to get our resources on scene," Pepler said. "As you can see here there’s a lot of snow on the ground and roads were treacherous for our companies to get to this location.”
No one was injured, but Garrit Cerruto, one of the residents displaced, said the damage is significant.
"Unfortunately they took me through," Cerruto said. "We have no walls, ceilings, or floors on the 2nd and 3rd levels."
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Cerruto said he lost a number of family photos and other irreplaceable items, but is happy he escaped the fire with his wife and 20-month-old son, who were sleeping on the top floor when the flames broke out.
The neighbors who lived in the unit where the fire started credit smoke detectors for saving their lives. Crews from the American Red Cross are helping residents of the condo where the fire broke out.
The fire has been ruled accidental, according to Acting Fire Marshal Edward Bascetta.
Torrington, Harwinton, Drakeville, Burville and Litchfield fire departments responded.
