Four people, including two children, died early Monday morning after a fire tore through a home in Hartford, Connecticut.
Firefighters were called to Shultas Place around 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 18, according to NBC affiliate WVIT and the Hartford Courant.
Hartford Fire Chief Rodney Barco said crews tried to enter the home using a ladder but were forced back by the intense flames, the Courant and the Stamford Advocate reported. Firefighters had also tried to get inside through the first floor, Barco added.
Officials confirmed that two adults and two children were killed. Their names have not been released.
A woman who says she is related to the victims told ABC affiliate WTNH that the four who died were her three sisters and her nephew.
Five more people — four from inside the home and one firefighter — were taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to the Courant and the Advocate.
Barco explained that the firefighter was hurt after falling down stairs in “zero visibility” conditions. The other four victims hospitalized were two adults and two children, per the Courant and WVIT.
The house was completely destroyed, according to the Courant and WTNH. The American Red Cross is helping those affected.
“This is a heartbreaking incident for the victims’ loved ones and the entire Hartford community,” said Hartford Fire Department Public Information Officer Mario Oquendo, Jr., as reported by local outlets.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the family during this incredibly difficult time,” he added. “We mourn the loss of these lives and stand together in support as we begin to heal from this tragedy.”
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Two nearby buildings were also damaged by wind-driven flames, though only on the surface, Barco said, according to the Courant.
He added that counseling and mental health support will be offered to the firefighters who responded.
“It’s really hard on the firefighters, even though we deal with this on a daily basis,” Barco explained. “We all have families, loved ones, and children. They take it to heart, and they take their job very seriously.”
