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The fire began in Westport around 11:45 p.m., Wednesday, April 20 in a mixed-occupancy building that housed apartments and an animal boarding facility.
Westport Police officers arrived and reported a visible fire coming from the building, said Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Gootman, of the Westport Fire Department.
The fire department arrived and found heavy fire on the second floor of the building, Gootman said.
Firefighters attacked the fire with two hose lines to extinguish the fire. Searches of the building determined that the occupants on the second floor had been alerted by fire detectors and jumped from a second-floor window, the chief added.
The occupants were treated and assessed on scene by Westport EMS. They did not require transport to the hospital.
Firefighters and police officers rescued and removed approximately 50 dogs and cats from the dog and cat boarding facility.
The fire is under investigation by the Westport Fire Marshal’s Office.
"The Westport Fire Department would like to remind residents that working smoke detectors save lives," Gootman said. "Please ensure that you have working smoke detectors in your house."
Fairfield and Norwalk Fire departments provided mutual aid at the scene of the fire.
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