Nearby homes were evacuated Saturday night as flames ripped through an abandoned factory in Waterbury.
The fire was reported about 8 p.m. in the vacant mill building on Water Street around 8 p.m., NBC Connecticut reported.
Officials evacuated homes as the blaze spread and threatened homes.
“I looked out my window and I was able to see the big flames, I mean, they were like, billowing. I’m not going to lie I was a little scared,” Matthew Hopson told WFSB.com.
The blaze burned overnight and several parts of the four-story building collapsed.
“When the first part of the building collapsed it sounded like thunder," eyewitness Sara Lindsey said. "The ground did shake a little bit. It was quite loud. We did see part of the building collapse into the river which sent up a bunch of water when it collapsed."
Three firefighters suffered minor injuries.
