Three persons are hospitalized after a massive fire broke out in an apartment building in New London Tuesday night and forced nearly 100 inmates to be evacuated. Two of the hospitalized are being treated for inhaling smoke.
The fire broke out around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday in a three-story, 36-unit apartment complex at 283 Willetts Avenue. The fire engulfed the Parkside West apartments just before 10 p.m., and continued to burn into the early-morning hours. The cause of the fire is being ascertained.
More than 80 firefighters were called to fight the fire and rescue victims who were hanging out of windows from all sides of the building. Fire officials said rescuers helped eight persons escape the flames.
They said the fire started in a third-floor apartment, and flames tore through the roof of the building. About 50 residents were forced to flee the building, many standing outside in the cold gazing helplessly at their homes going up in clouds of smoke.
The Red Cross and the New London and Providence branches of the Salvation Army helped the displaced people find shelter.
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