After investigation, the cause of the fire was found to be accidental and related to cooking. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH — On Monday, May 29 at 2:05 p.m. the City of Norwich Fire Department was dispatched to an automatic fire alarm at Peacock Manor Apartments, located at 13 Brown Avenue in the City of Norwich.

Peacock Manor is a 62-apartment complex mainly occupied by elderly residents.

During the response, the initial career-staffed engine was made aware that a call was received by the Chenango County 911 Center from a person within the building confirming a fire within an apartment at the complex.

At 2:08 p.m., Engine 234 and Ambulance 2391 arrived on scene and encountered heavy smoke conditions on the first floor. The initial crews consisting of Captain Franklin, Firefighter Kerila, Firefighter Winsor, and Firefighter Isom also encountered multiple occupants attempting to evacuate.

The duty crew quickly located the apartment with the fire during investigation. Upon entry of the apartment, the crew reported a working fire. Crews simultaneously went to work on extinguishing the fire and performed the rescue of one handicapped resident and her dog from the apartment.

The duty crew had the fire extinguished and under control within minutes of arrival.

Assisting with the removal of the trapped occupant and others were the Norwich Police Officers Prime and Stratton.

Additional units and members on scene continued assisting with search and removal of all occupants within the apartment complex, checking for fire extension, removal of the smoke, and isolation and control of water flow from an activated sprinkler head.

There were a total of four occupants from the apartment complex evaluated by EMS personnel on scene. Two of these occupants were transported to the UHS Chenango Memorial ER for minor smoke inhalation, and both were later released. There were no firefighter injuries reported.

The incident generated a "structure fire" box alarm. The box alarm consisted of the response from all members of the City of Norwich Fire Department, including off-duty career staff. Mutual aid was received from the North Norwich, South New Berlin, Oxford, Plymouth, Preston, Sherburne, and New Berlin Fire Departments, the Chenango County Office of Emergency Services, Norwich Police Department, and the Chenango County Sheriff's Office.

Due to the activation of the fire alarm system, functioning fire doors, and working sprinkler system, the reduction of smoke traveling within the building and fire spread was kept to a minimum, along with early notification of the occupants to evacuate, and rapid response by the fire department.

The fire damage sustained was contained to the original apartment. Additional water damage was created by water flow from the activated sprinkler. The fire displaced nine residents from their apartments. All remaining residents were able to return to their own apartments. The investigation revealed the cause of the fire to be accidental and related to cooking.

The City of Norwich Fire Department would like to thank all mutual aid companies, law enforcement agencies, and the Norwich Housing Authority for the rapid response and assistance with handling the residents and the accountability throughout the incident.

-Information provided by the Norwich Fire Department