Several Displaced In West Hartford Apartment Building Fire: WHFD

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Two families were displaced after fire tore through the third floor of a three-story apartment building in West Hartford late Sunday afternoon.

According to the West Hartford Fire Department, dispatchers at 5:24 p.m. received reports of a fire on the top floor of a three-story apartment building at 144 Oakwood Ave.

As WHFD units rushed to the scene, additional calls indicated that fire and smoke were visible at the back of the building, the WHFD said in a statement.

When units arrived at 5:28 p.m., heavy smoke and fire were visible to the rear of the building, the WFHD said, with mutual aid called to the scene and to cover for the town.

"The primary attack line knocked down the bulk of the fire," wrote WHFD Deputy Chief Adam Pacheco, who added a search of the floor revealed no one was home at the time.

"Additional units were assigned to search and to check for extension to the interior of the building. The primary search was negative, confirming the residence was unoccupied."

Pacheco said firefighting efforts were contained to the third floor, and the fire was placed under control at 6:01 p.m.

No injuries to fire personnel were reported, he said.

The West Hartford Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the fire's origin and cause.

"The West Hartford Building Official’s Office was on scene, and the apartment will not be reoccupied due to the significant fire, smoke, and water damage," Pacheco said.

The Red Cross arrived on location to assist the occupants, who were described as five adults comprising two separate families.

"The West Hartford Fire Department would like to thank our dispatchers, WH Police Department, Hartford Fire Department, Newington Fire, UConn Fire, and AMR who assisted at the scene, or by covering the town while our units were committed to the fire," wrote Pacheco.