West Hartford Family Displaced After Weekend Fire: WHFD

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The Red Cross is helping a family Monday after an overnight fire over the weekend badly damaged their home.

Due to smoke detectors, however, the blaze didn't injure any occupants or responders.

According to the West Hartford Fire Department, the first call of the fire — which was reported on Cliffmore Road — came at 11:44 p.m. Saturday, May 4, via a fire alarm activation.

Firefighters were called to the scene, meanwhile, at 11:47 p.m. an occupant of the home reported to dispatchers that "a loud noise in the house" prompted them to run out to a neighbor's house, according to the WHFD.

By 11:52 p.m., firefighters arrived and reported "visible smoke and fire from the front of the house," wrote the WFHD.

Upon arrival, firefighters said, units were able to knock down the blaze, and by 12:07 a.m. Sunday, much of the fire was out.

No occupants or responders were injured, according to the WFHD, but the home had significant smoke damage throughout and fire damage to several rooms.

According to the WFHD, the West Hartford Building Official and West Hartford Fire Marshal's office are investigating and the home is, likely, uninhabitable.

Assisting with the call were West Hartford Police Department and American Medical Response units.

Providing standby mutual aid coverage were fire companies from New Britain, Newington, and Hartford, the WFHD said.

The Red Cross, meanwhile, provided relief assistance to one adult and one child living in the home.

For the short term, the Red Cross said, the victims were given personal care items and tips and what they needed to cope and recover from the blaze.

"Those affected will connect with Red Cross caseworkers in the coming days to work on a longer-term recovery plan," said the Red Cross in a statement.

West Hartford Fire Department Chief Greg Priest said this fire is an example of how working smoke detectors and alarms can get a family out of a burning home safely and get firefighters to the scene quickly.

He said the quick action of firefighters staved off more serious consequences.

"While there is extensive smoke damage, the fire was contained to the immediate few rooms where is started and I am very proud of the “stop” that prevented further fire damage," Priest said in a statement.