Rats Survive Harrowing Fire In Vernon Tenement: Officials

VERNON, CT — Several domesticated rats survived an intense March fire that destroyed a tenement in the Rockville section of Vernon, officials said this week.

Both Vernon Fire Marshal Daniel Wasilewski and Animal Control officer confirmed the story Wednesday. Wasilewski said several rats were in a cage and were found in the aftermath.

Segar said when the call came in about retrieving the rats on the lower floor, a colleague expected them to be deceased and was prepared to humanely collect them.

"Then, a fire official said, 'no ... they're alive.' It wasn't what we expected," Segar said.

Segar said several rats were in the house ranging from adults to babies. He said he even adopted two of them as pets.

The fire broke out at 80-82 Ward Street on March 29 and the cause is in the books as "Indeterminate."

The initial call came in at 5:08 p.m. and, when firefighters arrived, the building was engulfed in heavy smoke. Some residents had to be rescued with ladders thrown onto the side of the building.

The fire then spread to 330 Ward St., located to the rear of the circa 1800s building.

Firefighters were still battling the blaze hours later.

Two people were taken to nearby Rockville General Hospital for smoke inhalation, Wasilewski said.

No one else was injured.

In all, 15 people were displaced from 80-82 Union St., a large multi-family building that dates back to the 1800s, according to Wasilewski.

He said 80-82 Union St. is being considered a total loss.

Another 10 people were displaced from 33 Ward St., he added.