Smoke from a fire in Essex rises above the Connecticut RiverESSEX, CT (WFSB) -
Emergency officials in Essex said a home was destroyed after a fire Monday morning.
According to Valley Shore Emergency Communications, the large fire broke out at the home on Deep River Drive before 11:30 a.m.
"The caller who called 911 drove by, saw the smoke and within a minute, the whole house was engulfed in flames," said Fire Chief Steven Olsen.
Mutual aid was requested from surrounding communities to help put the fire out, but by the time they did, the damage had been done.
"I got here within two minutes and had fire through the whole first floor of the house and the garage area," Olsen said.
Emergency officials at the scene said the fire spread after a propane tank exploded inside the home, causing the flames to spread rapidly.
No one was inside the home when the fire broke out.
The Connecticut chapter of the American Red Cross said it was assisting the family, two adults and two children, as it starts to rebuild.
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