Branford Firefighters Extinguish Apartment Fire Wednesday Morning, Resident Treated For Smoke Inhalation

BRANFORD, CT — Shortly before 11 a.m., Wednesday, Branford firefighters responded to a reported structure fire at Rose Hill Apartments, 30 Rose St. The resident reported a fire in a third-floor apartment, the fire department noted.

“Rose Hill Apartments is a 39-unit residential building that is home primarily to older residents,” the department noted in a news release. The fire originated in the living room of a third-floor apartment.

”Branford firefighters arrived on scene within four minutes of dispatch and quickly contained the fire to the room of origin,” the department shared. “The apartment sustained significant fire damage and was subsequently deemed uninhabitable by the building inspector.”

The apartment’s resident, found in the hallway, was “rapidly evacuated. Branford Fire Department EMS personnel treated the resident at the scene and transported them to Yale New Haven Hospital for further treatment and evaluation of smoke inhalation.

Firefighters also assisted other nearby residents to safety during the evacuation.

Smoke from the fire spread into the third-floor hallway. While evacuation efforts were underway, firefighters worked to limit the spread of smoke to other areas of the building and deployed mechanical fans to ventilate the affected areas, fire officials said.

“The Branford Fire Department would like to remind residents of the vital role that self-closing doors play in limiting the spread of fire and deadly smoke,” the depressed on its Facebook page. “Apartment doors and hallway smoke doors should never be propped open, chocked open, or blocked. These doors are a critical component of the fire protection system in multi-unit residential buildings and can help provide valuable time for residents to escape and for firefighters to respond.”

Responding units included Engines 1, 2, and 9; Ladder Truck 1; Rescue 2; Medic 3; Ambulance 2; and Cars 1, 2, 8, and 9. Fire department units remained on scene until approximately 12:30 p.m.

Fire Marshal Rob Dobuzinsky is investigating the incident. The cause of the fire remains undetermined at this time.