Hartford

Dozens of Families Displaced, 4 People Taken to Hospital After Hartford Apartment Fire

Dozens of families are displaced and multiple people were taken to the hospital after an apartment fire in Hartford early Sunday morning.

Firefighters were called to the apartment building on Collins Street shortly before 4 a.m. after getting a report of a fire.

Crews knocked down the fire in less than 30 minutes. They said found heavy CO2 levels on the fourth floor, where the fire was.

The fire was contained to the apartment of origin, firefighters said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Four people were taken to the hospital including one firefighter, authorities said. The firefighter is being treated for what experts called minor issues.

According to fire officials, while trying to extinguish the fire, a stand pipe failed and caused flooding in the building. The flooding also caused extensive electrical issues and damage to the dry wall.

Hartford Fire Department Deputy Chief Ian Tenney said the building will likely be condemned due to water damage and other conditions.

According to officials, there were 54 apartments in the building and it was heavily occupied. Residents are being processed for emergency shelter at Pope Park Rec Center by Health and Human Services of Hartford. The American Red Cross is also assisting. City officials will take in people who need medication.

After this fire, fire officials remind people about the importance of renter's insurance. A majority of the people who lived in the apartment did not have renter's insurance, according to Tenney. They will have to pay out of pocket for things they don't get from the American Red Cross.

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