Fire Fighters Battle 2 Alarm Structure Fire in Torrington.

11/08/2014

Several Torrington residents are counting their blessings after escaping unharmed from a 2 alarm fire that ripped through a multi-family dwelling at 404 Main Street in Torrington. Torrington Fire Department responded to the fire which started at around 11:37 am. Fire Fighters from Winchester and other Litchfield County departments responded for mutual aid.

All of the occupants escaped the blaze, 1 adult and 1 child were taken to a local area hospital; the extent of their injuries is unknown at this time.  I spoke with several individuals at the scene who were observing from the parking lot of a bank across the street. According to a passerby, a dog was trying to go back into the house as occupants were running out of it. The dog reportedly got out safely.

An individual who lives at 398 Main Street who evacuated from his building and said that the fire was so hot he couldn't go near his window. He also told me that the owner of the property did not take care of it and that he had complained several times about trash and other materials in the back yard of the house.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities believe that the fire started in the basement. The design of the house played a major factor in how quickly the flames spread. Deputy Fire Chief Christopher Pepler said, "This is balloon frame and the fire spread rapidly while crews were trying to extinguish it." The roof collapsed and the building was totally destroyed.