Branford Firefighters Make Quick Work Of Indian Neck Apartment Fire

BRANFORD, CT — Branford firefighters responded to a structure fire at Parkside Village II apartments Monday morning, the department said in a news release.

At around 11:40 a.m., the property manager of the complex at 3 Block Island Road called 911 to report the "whole apartment on fire," the department noted.

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Branford Emergency Communications also received a report of a fire alarm from the alarm monitoring service at approximately the same time, they said.

Parkside II is a 40-unit residential complex that is home primarily to older residents, firefighters noted.

According to fire officials, the fire originated in building A, unit 3. Indian Neck-Pine Orchard, Engine 9, arrived on scene within minutes of dispatch and was able to quickly contain and extinguish the fire limiting damage to the apartment of origin, officials said.

The apartment sustained significant fire damage and was subsequently deemed uninhabitable by the building inspector, according to the department.

The resident of the apartment that was on fire was not in the home at the time, it was noted. The department added that several other apartments required ventilation.

The Branford Fire Department is working with property management to determine if any other residents of the building will need relocation, fire officials said.

There were no reported injuries.

Responding units included Engines 1, 2, and 9; Ladder Truck 1; Ambulance 1; and Cars 1, 2, 8, and 9. Guilford Fire Department was dispatched as the Rapid Intervention Team but was canceled prior to arrival, "with our thanks," the release reads.

Fire department units remained on scene until approximately 12:30 p.m.

According to the release, Fire Marshal Rob Dobuzinsky "has determined the fire to be accidental in nature."

"While cleaning out the apartment and moving furniture, a mattress was left in contact with the stovetop adjacent to the door, and the stove knob inadvertently turned on," fire officials said.