Killingly, CT – Just before midnight on Thursday, firefighters were awoken to respond to a fire alarm at the Primrose Village Senior Housing complex. Before crews made it to the trucks, the call was upgraded to an apartment fire, which resulted in two transports to area hospitals.
At approximately 11:55 p.m. on Thursday, February 1st, 2024, Dayville Fire Company members and two mutual aid trucks were dispatched for a reported fire alarm at 1 Primrose Village, a multi-unit senior housing building. Minutes later, Quinebaug Valley Emergency Communications (QVEC) received additional information that there was a fire in apartment 28, and an occupant was possibly still inside. The call was immediately upgraded to a 1st alarm structure fire bringing in additional mutual aid companies from several surrounding towns.
Upon arrival, crews found heavy smoke showing from an apartment in the rear wing of the structure, approximately 300′ from the roadway, with the building only partially evacuated. A Search and Rescue team made entry to the fire apartment, through a window, to begin searching for the occupant who was reportedly trapped inside, simultaneously an attack crew deployed a long attack line off of Engine Tanker 163 (ET163) which was located on the road. This line which is dubbed the “Frito line” is a 400′ length of 2″ attack line designed to reach the innermost portion of the many large industrial structures within Dayville such as Frito Lay. With no apparatus access to the rear of the building, a long line was the only way to get water on the fire.
With a primary hand line deployed and a secondary standard line close behind, an attack crew made entry alongside the search crew and began an aggressive attack on the seat of the fire. Crews were able to knock down the bulk of the fire, containing the majority of the damage to a single apartment, within approximately 15 minutes of the 1st alarm upgrade. The search team conducted primary and secondary searches of the fire apartment without locating anyone and then transitioned to additional searches of nearby apartments. It was later discovered that the occupant of the fire apartment had evacuated under their own power before the fire department arrived.
While firefighting operations were underway in the rear wing of the building, an evacuation operation was underway throughout the rest of the structure. With the building containing 28 apartments, numerous residents had to be evacuated to the Primrose Crossing Day Room which is adjacent to the fire building. Over 20 residents, including two who are bedridden, needed direct assistance from responders to safely evacuate.
Early into the fire crews hooked to a hydrant on the Primrose premises and were able to keep the attack truck filled with water for the duration of the incident.
Two residents were transported by KB Ambulance for evaluation at Day Kimball Hospital.
When asked about how crews handled the complex incident Chief Mike Shabenas, Dayville Fire Company, told Quiet Corner Alerts “[The incident] went like clockwork. It was well coordinated and everyone worked together doing the whole thing [firefighter and evacuating residents] at once. Everyone who [responded] tonight should be proud of what they did, it was a great team effort.”
The fire was held to a 1st alarm assignment with the addition of one additional company for manpower to assist with evacuations.
The fire is currently under investigation by the Killingly Fire Marshal’s Office.
Agencies that responded included the Dayville Fire Company, Williamsville Fire Engine Company, Danielson Fire Department, East Killingly Fire Department, Atwood Hose Fire Company, East Putnam Fire Department, Attawaugan Fire Department, KB Ambulance, and the Killingly Rehab Unit.
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