Man Killed in New Haven Fire Identified

A man is dead after fire broke out in his apartment at University Towers at 100 York Street in New Haven on Wednesday morning, according to officials, and four other people were injured.

The three-alarm fire started inside a sixth-floor apartment and quickly spread throughout the 17-floor building, according to fire officials. 

Officials identified the man is Charlton Gilbert and the medical examiner determined that he died of smoke inhalation.

Firefighters brought other residents to safety by removing them from balconies, but two residents and two firefighters were injured. One firefighter had chest pains and another injured a foot.

Dorothy Esdaile said firefighters helped her down the steps and she went to the emergency room to be treated for smoke inhalation.

When she returned home, she learned that her neighbor had been killed in the fire. 

"He had been in the building for a long time. He was a single guy. I guess, he lived by himself," she said.

She is tired and upset by what happened, but she is thankful to be alive.

The entire building was evacuated, but residents of apartments that were not damaged have been allowed to return home.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

NBC Connecticut reached out to the company that manages the property. They had no comment as of Wednesday afternoon.
 

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