At 03:10 Norwich Battalion 1 gave a working fire for 24 John St, a 3.5 story wood frame OMD. Heavy fire was visible from Fire HQ. Upon arrival heavy fire was coming out the first floor "B" side extending to the upper floors, Several spot fires were in the yard and a car fire was active too. Its been reported that a O2 tank exploded as the occupant were evacuating the apartment and knocked them down and blew out some window frames.
Crews attacked the main body of fire on the first floor with an 2.5 hand-line and then relocated to the 2nd floor as a second engine company stretched to a separate apartment on the 2nd floor. Tribal Fast responded and Yantic Eng-33 for additional Fast personnel, Car-1 Arrived and requested a 2nd alarm to the scene. Battalion 1, directed 2 members from Yantic to operate a line on the 1st floor due to a flair up, as NFD worked the upper levels. The fire spread fast and took hold of the upper floors and command gave the evacuation orders.
The companies went defensive and shortly after the roof collapsed. EGPFD Ladder 5 worked their way into the yard and used their ladder pipe for knockdown. The fire is under investigation by the FMO. Several occupants were displaced.

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