A massive three-alarm fire tore through the Ledges Apartments on Ledgewood Drive in Groton, Connecticut, early Sunday morning, May 31, 2026, displacing more than 50 residents and leaving two firefighters injured.
Emergency crews were dispatched around 3 a. m.
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after reports of flames coming from the structure, said Poquonnock Bridge Fire Chief Jeffrey Rheaume. A third alarm was declared at 3:07 a.
m. as the blaze spread rapidly through multiple floors and into the attic.
More than a dozen fire departments from across southeastern Connecticut responded. Fire officials reported that 43 units sustained extensive fire and water damage, destroying the building's roof.
No residents were injured, but two firefighters received treatment for minor injuries during the five-hour operation to bring the fire under control.
Residents Describe Terrifying Escape
Avery, who was visiting friends at the complex, described waking up to frantic shouting amid heavy smoke.
"Imagine waking up in the middle of the night, trying to grab whatever you can and not being able to see because of smoke," Avery said.
The flames quickly jumped from an adjacent building to the structure where Avery was sleeping, forcing everyone outside.
"Then, the next thing I hear is get out of the house, get out of the house.
I wake up what was happening and I saw a wall of fire in the other apartment building," Avery recalled.
After fleeing, Avery called emergency services repeatedly to seek help for those trapped inside. "I was really scared.
Obviously, we were all outside then I heard a kid screaming for help. I was like oh my god.
I just called 911 multiple times," Avery said.
Residents were later allowed to briefly return to their apartments once the immediate danger subsided. "As long as you are alive.
That's all that matters. Everything can be replaced but a human life cannot.
That's priceless," Avery added.
Firefighting Challenges and Community Response
Chief Rheaume explained that the complex's structural layout hindered containment. "It was a sprinkler building.
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So there are fire sprinklers in the interior of the structure.
But if fire gets to the exterior it tends to run the exterior wall and then once it gets into the attic, it can run the attic space, which is what happened here," he said.
Crews focused on stopping the flames from advancing to the opposite end of the building.
"Our efforts kind of focused on stopping the spread of the fire from getting down to the other end of the building," Rheaume said.
"And obviously keeping it contained in this building."
Resident Brian Stanley and his wife navigated a smoke-filled stairwell to escape their end unit.
"When we first came out, because we're on the end, we didn't smell anything or see anything, but we had to go down two flights of stairs to get out," Stanley said.
"The smoke in the stairwell was gagging us."
Once outside, Stanley realized the severity. "Then we saw the flames coming through the roof.
We knew, 'Oh my God, this is big time.'" He noted that the sudden loss of housing has caused immediate stress.
"They're telling us already you're not going to get in today. Maybe not tomorrow."
Neighbor Devin Brown, who lives across the street, captured cellphone video showing flames and thick smoke. "I've never seen anything like it before.
This is a very massive building. How could this happen?"
Brown said, expressing concern for displaced families.
Fire officials have informed residents that they will not be allowed back into their homes for an extended period.
The Red Cross is currently stationed at the apartment complex clubhouse providing assistance to displaced families.
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Fire investigators continue working to determine the origin and cause of the blaze.
