Rocky Hill firefighters say heavy debris and paper trash inside a historic home fueled a blaze, leaving the resident critically injured

By Jesse Leavenworth
New Haven Register

ROCKY HILL, Conn. — Firefighters encountered a “substantial” amount of paper trash and other debris inside a burning house where a woman was found unconscious Saturday, Rocky Hill Fire Chief Michael Garrahy said Sunday.

The 1,500-square-foot house on Main Street near George Street was uninhabitable due to fire, smoke and water damage, Garrahy said. The local fire marshal, with help from the state fire marshal, was investigating the cause and origin of the blaze, which a passerby reported late Saturday morning.

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The victim, who lived alone in the house, suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Hartford Hospital, but Garrahy said he did not have an update on her condition Sunday.

The blaze was advanced when the first firefighters arrived and made more challenging to douse due to a hoarding situation, with debris piled on the first floor, the chief said. The resident was found unresponsive on the first floor at the foot of a stairwell, he said. Garrahy said no pets were found in the house, which was built in 1890, according to assessor’s records.

Firefighters did not find any smoke detectors in the residence, the chief said.

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