About 20 Displaced In Grand Street Fire

The responded to a fire this afternoon that spread from one residence to another, displacing about 20 people.

The fire was reported shortly before 4 p.m. Flames from the blaze at 11 Grand Street spread to a triple decker apartment house at 15 Grand Street, damaging the rear of the building.

Fire Chief Ron Samul said he was told that 15 people were living at 15 Grand Street, which is used as a halfway house, and five or six people resided at 11 Grand Street. The American Red Cross was working to assist the displaced people.

"Neither one is damaged beyond repair," Samul said of the residences.

Ladder trucks had to station themselves on Elm Street and in a lot off this road to access the rear of the buildings, since there was not enough room on Grand Street itself. Samul said hot temperatures also presented a problem, but that no one was injured in the fire.

Mayor Daryl Finizio visited the scene and commended the department, saying they arrived on the scene quickly. He said several areas of New London have tight-packed buildings, and that the damage could have been much worse. Rocco Basilica, a firefighter and president of the New London Firefighters Local 1522 union, agreed.

"Anywhere else, this block's on the ground," he said.

Firefighters from the Mohegan Tribe, Sub Base New London, and Waterford assisted at the scene. Waterford Ambulance helped with responses to medical calls while New London firefighters fought the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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