Eight people have been transported to the hospital after a fire on Preston Street in Hartford Wednesday morning and firefighters rescued people who were trapped.
Officials said one person jumped from the building and broke her ankle and other people were hanging out the second-and third-floor windows.
Fire officials said they received several calls reporting that people were trapped on the third floor and firefighters used ladders to rescue two people from the building.
The resident who broke an ankle while jumping from the building and seven people who suffered smoke inhalation were taken to the hospital.
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Carlos Ortiz, of Hartford, said his 76-year-old mother-in-law jumped out the first-floor window after opening the door and seeing a lot of smoke in the hallway. She was transported for medical care, he said.
Hartford Deputy Fire Chief Kenneth Kowal said firefighters had water on the fire within five minutes and had it under control and knocked down within 20.
Fire crews said winter conditions caused a couple of issues for fire responders.
Kowal said apparatus froze and firefighters slipped and fell, but none were injured.
A bus was brought in to keep residents warm.
The fire marshal will investigate the cause of the fire.
Fire officials urge people to take safety precautions if there is a fire, including keeping doors closed. If you have to use a space heater, make sure there is space around it, plug it into its own separate outlet, and do not use an extension cord or leave it plugged in.
