Update: Four Dead Following Enfield House Fire

Update: 6:37 p.m.

The Town of Enfield is mourning the loss of four residents who were killed in an early morning fire Wednesday that destroyed the duplex at 38 S. River St. in the Thompsonville section of town.

According to fire officials, the bodies of the four adults were found in the rubble of the building. The victims were among nine people who lived in the duplex. The others were able to escape including one who reportedly was flown to a Boston-area hospital for treatment of burns.

Enfield Fire Department Public Information Officer Mark Zarcaro said that when firefighters arrived about 6:15 a.m., flames were spewing from all windows. A team of four firefighters attempted to enter the building but had to retreat when the second floor collapsed onto the first floor, Zarcaro said.

Five residents made it out safely after flames broke out at 38 South River Street around 6:15 a.m., and later Wednesday, the bodies of four adults were found among the rubble.

According to NBC Connecticut, family members and a close neighbor have identified three of the victims as Joshua Johnson, Orise Handfield and Cathy Armes and the fourth victim was a close family friend.

In a statement Enfield Mayor Scott Kaupin said:

“Our community is saddened by the tragedy today on South River Street. Our thoughts and prayers are with those missing and displaced by the fire. Our community, as we have done so many times in the past, will help the survivors and the families recover from their personal losses.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Connecticut State Fire Marshal’s office.

Original story: 10:23 a.m.

Four people are unaccounted for after an early morning fire broke out in a multi-family home in the Thompsonville section of Enfield Wednesday, according to reports.

Firefighters found there was heavy fire inside the two-family home on South River Street in the Thompsonville section of town when they arrived about 6:15 a.m., according tot WFSB.

According to WFSB, three people lived on one side of the home with six residing on the other. Five people were evacuated and four remain unaccounted for.

Fire officials told WFSB and NBC Connecticut there was a partial collapse of the building and crews are still working on hot spots.

According to WTIC, the second floor has collapsed and crews were being brought in to stabilize the building so a search could be conducted. Neighbors told WTIC that there was a minor fire in the same house involving a Christmas tree on Tuesday.

Enfield Police said the four missing people range in age from 40- to 60-years-old, according to the WFSB report that can be found here.

Photo credit: WFSB.