West Hartford firefighters fought a structure fire on Edgemere Street Tuesday night, but a second fire was reported during the engagement.
West Hartford Fire Department responded to the scene of a fire on Edgemere Avenue on March 12, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Written by Ronnie Newton
Five people were evacuated from a single-family home on Edgemere Avenue Tuesday night following a fire, and West Hartford Fire Chief Greg Priest said the home will likely be deemed uninhabitable. .
At 7:49 p.m., dispatchers received a 911 call reporting a fire in a laundry room on Edgemere Avenue, Priest said. West Hartford police arrived on scene at 7:53 p.m. and reported an “active fire” coming from a second-story window.
Priest said the first fire apparatus also arrived at 7:53 p.m. and smoke was visible coming from the upper corner of the residence. Priest said the fire was declared at 7:57 p.m. “based on the amount of fire we saw when we got on scene.”
West Hartford Fire Department responded to the scene of a fire on Edgemere Avenue on March 12, 2024.Provided by West Hartford Fire Department
The fire was declared contained at 8:25 p.m.
There were no injuries and all five residents voluntarily evacuated before emergency personnel arrived on the scene. Firefighters conducted a preliminary search and confirmed that no one was inside. An age breakdown was not immediately available, but Priest said the residents are a mix of adults and children.
The priest added that there were animals in the house when the fire broke out, but they have all been recovered.
As part of the scene cleanup, firefighters who entered the building on Edgemere Avenue will be flushed down to remove any contaminants.Photo by Ronnie Newton
“There was significant damage to multiple rooms within the building,” Priest said.
“West Hartford Building Officials determined the residence was uninhabitable, so the Red Cross was called to provide assistance to the occupants,” Priest said. “Working with property owners, residents will be provided with alternative housing.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the West Hartford Fire Marshal's Office.
West Hartford Fire Department equipment at the scene of a fire on Edgemere Avenue on March 12, 2024.Provided by West Hartford Fire Department
Units were on the scene on Edgemere Avenue when they received a call about a second structure fire at 8:15 p.m. The fire was in the kitchen of an apartment building on Farmington Avenue. Priest said it was reported that “food was being grilled on a smoky stove on the third floor of an apartment building,” and that three mutual aid partners, University of Hartford, who were already in town to help, The Newington Fire Department responded to the incident, he said. .
The UW Fire Department provided mutual aid to West Hartford when a fire broke out on Farmington Avenue while WHFD units were on Edgemere Avenue.Courtesy of West Hartford Fire Department
Priest said a West Hartford deputy who was on the way and one of the units that responded at Edgemere Street also headed toward Farmington Street.
The Farmington Street fire has been extinguished, but the fire had spread into the cabinets and the unit needed ventilation, Priest said. No injuries were reported.
“We are often asked why fire departments contact mutual aid early just to stand by when they encounter another incident, and that is to ensure a quick response time in the event of another call. . This is a great example of the reason for mutual aid and a testament to the relationships between regional sectors,” Priest said.
“As we always say when responding to a critical incident, an effective response depends on the efforts of not only WHFD, but also the other parties who deploy us, assist on scene, and stand by. It’s an accomplishment,” Priest added. . He thanked West Hartford dispatchers, police, building officials, American Medical Response, and mutual aid partners at Hartford, Newington and UW.
There have been four structure fires in West Hartford in the past week, including two Tuesday night. Early Tuesday morning, firefighters took part in “post-incident neighborhood outreach” at Stephen Street and Kane Street to promote fire safety and improve safety in the neighborhoods where fires broke out on March 6 and March 10. answered the question.
The priest also recognized Fire Marshal's Office staff who responded to four recent investigations. “Although firefighting efforts tend to get the attention, the work of fire departments investigating fires should not be overlooked. “We are spending a significant amount of time investigating this,” Priest said.
Fire Chief Greg Priest points to information gathering happening at the mobile command center.Photo by Ronnie Newton
Chief Greg Priest said Deputy Chief Neil Sinatro conducted a “hot wash,” a short session with responders after the Edgemere Avenue fire, to review the sequence of events, areas of strength, and improvements. He said they discussed the opportunity.Courtesy of West Hartford Fire Department
West Hartford Fire Department equipment at the scene of a fire on Edgemere Avenue on March 12, 2024.Provided by West Hartford Fire Department
West Hartford Fire Department and West Hartford Police Department are at the scene of a fire on Edgemere Avenue on March 12, 2024.Provided by West Hartford Fire Department
West Hartford Fire Department responded to the scene of a fire on Edgemere Avenue on March 12, 2024.Provided by West Hartford Fire Department
West Hartford Fire Department responded to the scene of a fire on Edgemere Avenue on March 12, 2024.Provided by West Hartford Fire Department
West Hartford Fire Department responded to the scene of a fire on Edgemere Avenue on March 12, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
West Hartford Fire Department responded to the scene of a fire on Edgemere Avenue on March 12, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
As part of the scene cleanup, firefighters who entered the building on Edgemere Avenue will be flushed down to remove any contaminants.Photo by Ronnie Newton
West Hartford Fire Department responded to the scene of a fire on Edgemere Avenue on March 12, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Newington Fire Department provided mutual aid to West Hartford when a fire broke out on Farmington Street while WHFD units were on Edgemere Street.Courtesy of West Hartford Fire Department
The Hartford Fire Department provided mutual aid to West Hartford when a fire broke out on Farmington Street while WHFD units were on Edgemere Street.Courtesy of West Hartford Fire Department
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