Four Hurt After Blaze Rips Through West Hartford Residences: WHFD

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Four people were injured and nine displaced after a multi-family residence in West Hartford was damaged by fire early Wednesday morning.

According to the West Hartford Fire Department, at about 12:29 a.m. Wednesday, dispatchers received a call for a fire inside a multi-family building at 20 North Quaker Lane, West Hartford.

As a result, the WHFD and West Hartford Police Department were immediately dispatched, the WHFD wrote in a statement early Wednesday morning.

While firefighters were en route, dispatchers received several other 911 calls reporting smoke inside the house and a fire in the basement, the WHFD said.

Everyone was reported by callers to be out of the house, firefighters said.

First responders arriving learned that one of those outside had jumped from the second floor as a result of smoke, the WHFD said, as smoke was visible from multiple areas of the residence.

The WHFD said medical units were directed to the patient and suppression units arrived a minute later and discovered a fire in the basement.

As a result, "multiple" West Hartford fire companies entered the building and conducted a search for occupants while simultaneously finding a basement fire, which was put out by 12:49 a.m., the WHFD said.

The original victim who jumped from the building was transported to an area hospital for evaluation of apparently non-life-threatening injuries, wrote firefighters.

Meanwhile, three other occupants of the building reported illness or injury from smoke inhalation, injury during their escape, and related minor non-life-threatening injuries, according to the WHFD.

WHFD paramedics and additional medical responders from American Medical Response were then utilized.

In all, firefighters said,a total of four patients were evaluated, and three were transported to the hospital, all with "presumably non-life-threatening injuries."

One individual who requested medical attention subsequently refused treatment and transport.

A total of nine residents reportedly occupy the residence, one of whom was not present during the fire, the WFHD said.

In addition, one pet was removed from the building unharmed by an occupant/owner.

The West Hartford Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the fire's origin and cause and the Red Cross is assisting the remaining residents.

"The West Hartford Building Official’s Office is currently evaluating the structure for whether any portion of the multifamily residence can be re-occupied tonight, but it is expected to be deemed uninhabitable due to smoke and water damage," wrote WHFD Greg Priest early Wednesday morning. "West Hartford Fire would like to thank our dispatchers, the WH Police Department, and our mutual aid partners who assisted by covering the Town while our units were committed to the fire."