Several families have been displaced by a second-alarm fire that broke out at a multi-family home on Cottage Street in Manchester.
Flames broke out at 39 Cottage Street around 6:20 p.m. Friday, according to Manchester Fire Chief Robert Bycholski. It’s not clear where the fire started or why, but Bycholski said it burned on all three stories.
“We have pretty severe damage on the second floor and less damage on the first and third,” explained Bycholski. The fire was under control within 30 minutes of firefighters’ arrival on scene.
Four people were inside the home when the fire broke out, according to Bycholski. Two were able to get out on their own, and police helped rescue the other two. Bycholski said none of the people inside the home were children.
It’s not clear how many people live in the building, but Bycholski said there are five apartments in the house. Heavy fire damage has forced them from their homes and will likely keep them out for an extended period of time.
Residents were able to make other housing arrangements without the help of the Red Cross, Bycholski said.
Firefighters had to cut a ventilation hole in the roof so smoke could be released before they could extinguish the flames from the third-story attic.
Local
Crews from the East Hartford, Bolton, Vernon, Glastonbury and South Windsor fire departments provided mutual aid.
Bycholski said power to the street was turned off as a precaution to keep flames from jumping to the wires.
An investigation conducted by the local fire marshal was inconclusive, Bycholski said, and authorities are still working to figure out what started the fire.
