Firefighters Battle Blaze at Southfield Green Condominiums, Save One Cat

An early morning fire at a six-unit condominium development on South Main Street Wednesday resulted in the evacuation of the building and the rescuing and resuscitation of one pet cat.

According to the Manchester Fire Department, a fire was reported at the Southfield Green Condominiums at 441 S. Main St. at approximately 2:50 a.m. Wednesday morning when the occupant of one of the units awoke to a “wall of fire” outside her bedroom window.

All four occupants of that unit safely evacuated before firefighters arrived on the scene at approximately 2:56 a.m., while the department notified the occupants of the building’s five other units, who all evacuated the building.

Firefighters arrived on the scene to find heavy smoke and flames issuing from two units of the complex and an active fire in the attics of both units. Firefighters found and removed a pet cat from the building during rescue operations, and were able to contain the blaze before it spread to the building’s four other units.

Two occupants of the building were treated and released for smoke inhalation at Manchester Memorial Hospital. The cat was resuscitated on-scene and transported to Bolton Vet, where it is reported to be recovering.

The Eighth Utilities District and East Hartford fire departments assisted with rescue operations. Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the fire. Both units were declared uninhabitable. Manchester Emergency Management, Manchester Human Services and the American Red Cross assisted with temporary housing.