NORWICH – A fire ripped through a home located on a block connecting three others Saturday evening, causing damage to another home and forcing families from all four to evacuate overnight.

The Norwich Fire Department responded to a plume of smoke emanating from the north side of the City of Norwich. A fire broke out in the basement of 4 Lee Ave., one of four row houses located along Lee Avenue and Berry Street.

“This was a very dangerous scenario. The close proximity and the age of these hundred-year-plus homes makes them unpredictable and the situation could have easily gotten out of hand if it wasn’t for the quick response time from our emergency crews,” said Acting Fire Chief Joseph Angelino.