A Stamford mother survived a fire that killed her 3 children and the kids' grandparents Christmas morning.
Madonna Badger and a family friend escaped the fire that broke out in the house at 2267 Shippan Avenue shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday.
Badger's 10-year-old daughter, and 7-year-old twin girls died in the blaze, according to Stamford police. The girls' grandparents, who were from Southbury, were also killed. None of the names of the victims were released late Sunday.
It's a tragedy that shook neighbors and firefighters to the core.
"I've been on the job 38 years and it's not an easy day," Fire Chief Antonio Conte said while fighting back tears. "We made rescue attempts. We just couldn't get to them. It was so much flames and heat it drove firefighters back."
Video shot by a witness showed massive flames shooting from the home.
Local
The father of the children, Matthew Badger, lives in Manhattan, and was not in the home at the time of the fire, police said.
"It's Christmas day. There probably has not been a worse Christmas day in the city of Stamford," Mayor Michael Pavia said.
Neighbors said the family moved into the house about a year ago and were making renovations to it.
The Stamford fire marshal said it may take several days to determine the cause of the blaze.
