It was a challenging job for firefighters who entered a burning apartment building in East Hartford on Monday when temperatures were in the 90s.
But all the hard work in the intense heat meant a great deal to the families - some with children - who live at 516 Burnside Ave.
“They told me, ‘you need to get out and get out now’," said Lois Sidie, who lives in the building at the apartment building. She and other tenants all had to get out quickly.
Investigators said the front bedroom in one of the third-floor apartments had caught fire.
East Hartford Fire Chief John Oates said an old brick building like this can "hold the heat in," especially when the outside temperature is well into the 90s.
Firefighters were able to get in and extinguish the flames quickly and no tenants or firefighters were injured, authorities said.
“Mission focused. Get the job done," Oates said.
Firefighters were "rehabbed," the chief said, with gear removal, some rest and ample re-hydration.
“They were passing out water," said Lewis Lapalme, of East Hartford. "They were all sweating and hot.”
“Everybody got out, everybody made it - without shoes - but we made it," said Damaras Ramos, of East Hartford.
"They risk their lives every day to protect us and that is the most phenomenal thing I could ask for," Sidie said.
The Red Cross was helping the tenants on Monday night. The East Hartford fire marshal is investigating the fire but still had not identified an exact cause.
