Roof Caves in as Emergency Crews Battle Fire at Home in Old Saybrook (CT)

Justin Muszynski – Hartford Courant

The roof of a home in Old Saybrook caved in as fire crews were battling a fire on Thursday night in frigid conditions, leading to multiple firefighters falling on ice.

The blaze was reported at a home on Otter Cove Drive where the homeowner called emergency crews and said there were flames in the roof, according to the Old Saybrook Fire Department.

Fire Chief Joe Johnson told news reporters at the scene that crews arrived and found the roof of the home burning. The occupants of the home made it out safely.

Crews began attacking the blaze and ran out of water after about 17 minutes, Johnson said. Firefighters were able to run lines to some nearby ponds, but they had to cut through the ice on the surface to reach the water, according to Johnson.

The roof at one point caved into the second floor, which partially caved in and reached the first story, Johnson said.

Two firefighters slipped and fell on the icy conditions created by the water being used to battle the fire, which froze quickly in the frigid temperatures. No other injuries were reported.

Firefighters received mutual aid from several area fire departments.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

©2025 Hartford Courant. Visit courant.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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