1 Injured, 4 Displaced In New London House Fire

NEW LONDON, CT — A person was injured and four people were displaced following a fire in a single-family home in New London early Thursday morning, according to a statement from the fire department.

Firefighters responded to the call for a residential fire at a 15 West St. home at 5 a.m.

Firefighters arrived to find a fire contained to a single room in the home. They extinguished the fire quickly, preventing further spread to the rest of the home.

However, smoke damage occurred throughout the home. One resident was taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke-inhalation, according to the statement.

Four residents were displaced by the fire and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.

The Waterford and Naval Submarine Base fire departments provided mutual assistance.

New London fire investigators determined that the cause of the blaze was "resistive heating caused by the misuse of extension cords," according to the statement.

Fire officials provided the following tips to avoid such hazards:

• Do not overload outlets or extension cords. Plug only one heat-producing appliance into an outlet at a time.
• Avoid daisy-chaining multiple extension cords or power strips together.
• Never run cords under rugs, carpets, or through doorways, where they can be damaged or overheat.
• Inspect cords regularly for signs of wear, fraying, or damage, and replace them if necessary.
• Use cords that are rated for the intended use and match the wattage requirements of the devices being powered.
• Most importantly, make sure your home has working smoke alarms on every level, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas.

"This incident serves as a reminder of how quickly electrical fires can start and the importance of prevention measures in the home," fire officials said.