LEDYARD -- Firefighters responding to an intense fire Friday morning at a home on Warbler Way in the Gales Ferry section of Ledyard.
The fire broke out around 7 a.m. The homeowner was alerted by a smoke alarm and rushed outside but did suffer from smoke inhalation and other small injuries.
"We were hampered by heavy winds in the area which actually took the fire, brought the fire into the building itself, the rest of the building," said Gales Ferry Fire Chief Tony Saccone. "So we couldn't make entry in the beginning. So we did a defense of attack."
Another challenge they faced is that there are no fire hydrants in the area so some of the eight companies that provide a mutual aid assisted by trucking in water to battle the blaze.
The chief confirmed the home is a total loss. No word yet on what caused the fire but officials believe it started in the garage.