Fatal Fire Investigated As ‘Criminal In Nature’: Wallingford Police

WALLINGFORD, CT — The fatal fire that killed two people and critically injured another person Wednesday night in Wallingford is being investigated as “criminal in nature,” according to Police Chief John Ventura.

Ventura said the Wallingford Police Department’s Investigative Services Division has taken over the investigation.

Crews responded to a 911 call around 6 p.m. Wednesday reporting smoke coming from a home on Geneva Avenue.

Wallingford fire and police units were dispatched to the home and found a man outside suffering from “severe burns,” according to Ventura.

Ventura said the man was airlifted to a local burn center for treatment and remains in critical condition.

Crews made entry into the home and fire units found two people still inside the second-floor apartment, according to Ventura.

One person was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other was taken to an area hospital where they were pronounced dead, according to Ventura.

“Investigation conducted by the Wallingford Fire Marshal’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office with the assistance of the Wallingford Police Department’s Investigative Services Division, Central District Major Crime, and the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office indicates that the incident is criminal in nature,” Ventura wrote in a news release.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Wallingford Police Department at 203-294-2845 or leave a tip on the department’s website here.

(Original post) WALLINGFORD, CT — Two people were killed in a house fire on Geneva Avenue in Wallingford on Wednesday night, officials said in an update Thursday morning, according to media reports, including WFSB 3.

WFSB reports a third person was also injured, and their condition was unknown as of Thursday morning.

One person was taken to the hospital by LifeStar, according to NBC Connecticut.

Wallingford police advised residents around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday that fire crews responded to a “serious fire incident” in the Bull Avenue area.

Police advised motorists to avoid the area due to road closures in the area.

FOX 61 reports firefighters were still searching the building late Wednesday night for "any additional victims" and it wasn't immediately known how many people were inside.

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Crews from the Meriden, North Haven and Hamden fire departments also responded to the scene, according to FOX 61.

Read more at NBC Connecticut here, FOX 61 here, and WFSB 3 here.

This story will be updated when more information is available.