March 10--MANCHESTER -- Residents from 30 apartment units in the Buckland area safely evacuated but were kept from their homes Sunday night after a fire heavily damaged a third-floor unit.
The Manchester Fire Department, 8th Utilities District responded to the fire at 39 Buckland Hills Rd., in the Aspen Woods complex, at 2:50 p.m., Chief Ron Russo said. With the building in flames, the department called for help from fire departments at the Town of Manchester and Vernon, and South Windsor provided back-up coverage.
Russo said that although the fire damage was contained to one unit of the 3-story building, others were damaged by water or smoke, or could not be occupied Sunday because utilities were shut off.
Among those displaced were Ryan Cook and his wife, who returned home from the hospital just Sunday morning with a newborn boy. "I was trying to find the kids, get the kids -- find the shoes and everything else," Cook said. "We just got out as soon as possible."
The fire was contained in about an hour, Russo said. Residents had evacuated in an orderly way and there were no injuries among firefighters, and no pets were lost.
The fire remains under investigation and Russo did not name a likely cause, but he said there was no immediate reason to suspect arson.
The American Red Cross was working with some residents who need emergency food, clothing and shelter.
Mike Krafcik of FOX CT contributed to this story.
Copyright 2014 - The Hartford Courant
