OLD SAYBROOK, CT (WFSB) -
Several Old Saybrook firefighters were stung by hornets as they arrived at the scene of a two-alarm fire Friday afternoon.
The fire was reported on Pheasant Hill Road around noon after someone reported hearing an explosion and then seeing the garage fully engulfed in flames.
One neighbor and Marine, Holland Ahearn, rushed to the home to see if anyone was inside.
"They had two sliding-glass doors," he said. "I found a shovel, bashed in the window and ran inside and started calling people's names. I was in there for about a minute before the smoke got too bad."
Officials said while firefighters were hooking up connections to fire hydrants, a hornets' nest was disturbed, and that's when they started stinging firefighters.
"It's shocking," said neighbor Carol Dittberner. "We were talking to the owner. Poor woman. It's devastating."
Emergency crews from several surrounding communities, including Clinton, Westbrook, Lyme, Old Lyme, Guilford and Madison all assisted Old Saybrook fire crews in extinguishing the fire.
"It's hot," said Westbrook Fire Chief Mike Jenkins. "Nobody got hurt. That's all that matters."
The home was completely destroyed.
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