Victim Identified In Fatal Fire In Middletown: UPDATE

MIDDLETOWN, CT — The man who died in a house fire early Thursday morning in Middletown has been identified as 63-year-old Carl Rankins, police said in an update.

Emergency crews responded to the 100 block of Pine Street around 4:20 a.m. on the report of a structure fire. Police officers provided traffic direction and scene security while multiple fire departments responded, police said.

While crews battled the fire, a man was located in the residence and found to be unresponsive, according to police. He was removed from the residence and EMS personnel tried to resuscitate him, police said.

The man, later identified as Rankins, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

WTNH News 8 reports two people were trapped inside when the fire broke out, and one person was able to escape out the front of the building.

One firefighter is being evaluated for minor injuries, according to NBC Connecticut. Meriden firefighters assisted at the scene.

“This case is currently under investigation as a coordinated effort between Middletown Fire, Middletown Police, and CT State Police Fire Marshals,” police wrote in a news release. “At this time there does not appear to be any criminal element.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Daniel Smith at 860-638-4131.