4 kids dead in fire
Tragedy strikes at Conn. duplex
Four children died in a house fire in Connecticut on Tuesday night, according to officials.
The blaze tore through a duplex home in Somers, a town just southeast of Springfield, Mass., at around 10:20 p.m., officials said.
Police have not yet identified the victims, however Somers First Selectman Tim Keeney, the town’s chief executive, said they are ages 5, 6, 8 and 12 years old and from the same family, NBC Connecticut reported.
“It’s a tremendous loss for the town,” Keeney told reporters at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
Firefighters had a tough time entering the two-family home because a number of objects were blocking the doorways, Keeney said.
Somers Fire Chief John Roache said responding firefighters quickly found two children when entering the home. One child died at the scene and another died at Johnson Memorial Hospital.
The other two children were found dead inside of the house soon after, he said.
“The whole front of the house was very involved,” Roache told reporters. “The first floor right up to the second floor . . . Crews did
an extraordinary job trying to get in there and do some rescues. They did several grabs and got victims out.”
Eight people were living on the left side of the home and seven, including one adult, were home when the fire started. One adult and two children survived.
Four others living on the right side of the house were home when the fire started, but got out unscathed, officials said.
One of the three survivors was treated for serious burns and the others sustained minor injuries, officials said during a news conference Wednesday.
It’s not clear which is the adult. One firefighter was also injured, according to State Police.
Firefighters rescued several people — and one person even jumped from the second floor, officials
said.
A number of pets were also inside of the home. Firefighters were able to save three dogs, but a litter of puppies died during the fire.
The house was ruled a total loss, according to Roache.
Smoke alarms appeared to be installed and operating at the residence, but the cause of the fire remains under investigation, which is being led by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and State Police.
‘We grieve collectively’
State Police said they do not suspect any criminality in the blaze.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death in the victims, police said.
“Absolutely heartbreaking,” state Sen. John A. Kissel said. “This is
such a tragedy, and as a state, we grieve collectively,”
All four children were students in Somers public schools.
The district said it “immediately” sent out counseling resources to its schools after learning the terrible news and would continue to offer the extra support in the coming days.
“Our Somers community is dealing with an unimaginable loss,” Superintendent Sam Galloway told The Post.
“The first priority is to focus on the affected families, students, and staff who have been most impacted by this tragedy.
The town of Somers established The Angel Fund to provide immediate and future help to the family and has changed its sign outside of Town Hall requesting donations.