Southington Police Officer Rescues Four From Burning Building

Southington Police Officer Rescues Four From Burning Building
By KEN BYRON The Hartford Courant
3:47 PM EDT, May 9, 2008

SOUTHINGTON - A police officer rescued four people from their burning apartment building early today after he saw the house on fire.

The officer called for the fire department after seeing the flames and then went into the house at 310 West St. He got the four people who were home out before the flames spread and before anyone got hurt. The fire was still being investigated on Friday afternoon.

Fire Chief Richard McDonough said it appear to be suspicious.

Police spokesman Sgt. Lowell DePalma said the officer who saw the fire was on routine patrol.


"He saw a light on the house that didn't belong there so he turned around and went back," DePalma said about the officer's actions. "And when he got there he found the house was on fire."

DePalma said one person in the house was wearing ear plugs and another had taken a sleeping pill to help her fall asleep.

"They never would have heard anything," DePalma said. "Talk about dodging a bullet, this was very lucky on everyone's part." McDonough said the fire did little damage to the house and that the residents were able to return home later in the day.
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