Four Dead, Five Hurt in Hartford, CT, House Fire
Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
(TNS)
Aug. 18—HARTFORD — Two children and two adults were killed died in an overnight house fire on Shultas Place in Hartford, the city's fire chief said.
The identities and ages of the four people killed have not yet been confirmed, a news release provided by a Hartford Fire Department spokesperson said.
Five others, including a firefighter, were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, the release said. The four other people hospitalized — all civilians — were two adults and two children, fire officials said.
The Hartford Fire Department's Special Services Unit and the American Red Cross are coordinating to help the family who was displaced by the fire, the release said.
Fire Chief Rodney Barco said the four people killed in the fire were among nine occupants of the home.
"We don't have ages or names at this time," Barco said early Monday.
Fire officials said crews were called to the scene around 2:35 a.m. Monday for a structure fire, Hartford Fire Chief Rodney Barco said.
Firefighters encountered heavy flames at the structure on the 10 block of the street, he said.
The news release said a second alarm was requested to bring in additional resources.
Firefighters accessed the home using a ladder, but had to make their way back out due to the rapidly spreading fire, Barco said. They were then able to knock down the fire from outside and accessed the building.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Hartford Fire Department's Fire Marshal's Office, the Hartford Police Department and the State Fire Investigation Unit, fire officials said.
As of 9 a.m, Shultas Place remained closed to traffic and emergency personnel were still on the scene. Some neighbors stood in the sidewalks or their front porches as police and fire department personnel investigated the charred home.
A resident who identified himself only as Tony said Monday morning that he slept through the fire but awoke to cops and firefighters outside. He said he did not know the people affected by the fire but had seen them playing outside in the past.
"This is a heartbreaking incident for the victims' loved ones and the entire Hartford community. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the family during this incredibly difficult time," said the statement from fire department spokesperson District Chief Mario Oquendo Jr. "We mourn the loss of these lives and stand together in support as we begin to heal from this tragedy. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available."
Connecticut has seen a number of fatal fires recently. In the first two months of the year, nine people were killed in fires in Connecticut — a number that was down from 15 fatalities over the same time period in 2024, according to data from the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
While the number of fatalities dropped during that period year over year, January and February fire deaths were still higher than the first two months of any other year since at least 2015, according to the data.
Awilda Burgos, a resident in the neighborhood, said Monday morning that she was up since around when the fire began, after she heard strange noises outside.
"It's usually quiet around here, I thought it was a fight," Burgos said.
After she got up, Burgos said she figured out what was happening after she saw firefighters and police. She offered water to some people near her house, and a blanket to someone on a stretcher.
"When I first looked out I thought nobody died," Burgos said. "As time goes on, you can feel the presence that something bad happened."
Burgos said she was not close to the people that lived at the affected home, but they were friendly and would often greet passersby.
"I've seen the kids playing there just Saturday and for that to happen ... I don't know what I would do," Burgos said.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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