It could be days before officials know what started the massive six-alarm fire that destroyed the Office Furniture Rental Alliance warehouse in East Hartford on Monday morning.
The fire was reported just before 9 a.m. at 71 George St., a commercial building that extends about one city block. By afternoon the building is a total loss, according to the assistant fire chief.
Robert Orenstein, a vice president of Office Furniture Rental Alliance, says about a dozen people were inside the 50,000-square-foot building when the fire started. All got out and no one was hurt.
The New Boston Fund owns the 50,000 square foot building and leases it to Office Furniture Rental Alliance, LLC, a network of office furniture dealers and distribution centers across North America, according to BKM Enterprises.
The fire completely what was inside the building contents, according to a statement from BKM, but it will not affect the company’s nationwide operations, an official from BKM reports.
“The fire, although tragic, will not affect our operation or the level of service to our customers,” an official from BKM reports.
What it did affect, however, were surrounding companies in East Hartford.
Local
Power had to be shut off to the five blocks surrounding the building, East Hartford Mayor Melody Currey said. George Street and the entire area surrounding were closed, including Cedar, Cherry and James streets, and most of the area north of Governor Street. Some of these streets are still closed on Tuesday morning.
Several businesses were evacuated.
The blaze brought members of fire departments from at least six towns in central Connecticut together to fight the large blaze
Firefighters also wet down surrounding buildings and a neighboring building was destroyed, fire officials said. The reason it could take time to pinpoint the cause is that the building is so unstable, officials said.
Smoke was visible from as far away as Meriden.
