Woman Found Dead Following Fire At Broad Brook Multi-Family House

BROAD BROOK, CT — A raging fire that tore through a multi-family house on Church Street resulted in discovery of a woman's body on the third floor of the building.

The blaze was reported at 7:26 p.m. at 5 Church Street. Firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire, but were hampered by high winds and a considerable amount of clutter in the building, Broad Brook Assistant Fire Chief Gerald Bancroft said.

Reports indicated at least one person was trapped on an upper floor of the building, but a man for whom rescuers had been searching escaped. The woman's body was also discovered, but fire officials held off on revealing that information until next of kin could be notified, Bancroft said.

The difficult conditions required 25 to 35 minutes to bring the fire under control. Eight residents were displaced by the fire, and were being assisted by the American Red Cross, Bancroft said.

Mutual aid was provided by fire companies from Warehouse Point, Enfield, South Windsor, Ellington, Vernon and Windsor Locks, according to Bancroft.

State and local fire marshal's offices are still at the scene investigating the cause of the fire, Bancroft said.