WESTPORT — A two-family house on Compo Road South is uninhabitable after fire erupted in the structure Tuesday afternoon.
Residents of the dwelling at 65 Compo Road South escaped without injuries, according to a report by Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Cohen, but were forced to find alternate accommodations.
A pet perished in the blaze.
Firefighters were already nearby when the blaze was reported about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday because a large tree fell across the road, tearing down power lines and disrupting power to more than 310 area customers. Several outages were still reported early Wednesday.
When fire crews arrived on the scene, flames and smoke were billowing from the second floor of the two-unit home, Cohen said.
While all residents had left the dwelling, firefighters rescued a pet still inside the structure. Another pet left behind died.
As firefighters worked to douse the fire, an additional hazard nearby the scene was posed by the fallen tree and downed power lines, Cohen said.
Fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze and clear the scene about two hours later, with no reported injuries.
Several of the displaced residents were able to find other accommodations with family, while another found shelter with assistance from the Red Cross.
The Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the fire’s cause.
I’m slightly confused by the story. Was the fire in any way related to the lines going down, or coincidental?