Residents jump from windows to escape East Hartford fire

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH/AP) — People jumped out of second floor windows and handed their children to firefighters to escape a fire at an East Hartford condo complex early Tuesday.

"I opened the door and you can't see anything, the whole place was smoke," said Arnold Ntiamoah, resident. "I have to pick up my little one, eight months, have to walk out, ya know?"

At least nine people, including three firefighters, were injured.

The two-alarm fire was reported a little before 4:00 a.m. at Gateway Estates Condominiums off Ellington Road.

"There were people jumping from the second floor," Assistant Fire Chief William Perez said on Good Morning Connecticut. "Large amount of fire on the second floor" of building 231, he said. There are about 40 units in the building.

The injuries range from minor to a broken leg for one resident who jumped to safety.

"We also had people dropping their children out to the firefighters and to the police officers, and we're also pulling them out on ladders."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. There have been several small fires reported at the complex in the past week, but Perez would not call this fire an arson.

There was an arson fire at the complex just last week, and before that five other fires were deliberately set.

There is frustration and fear that it's one of their own neighbors who is to blame.

"We don't know who is doing that," said Ntiamoah. "I think the person he lives in the apartment, that's what I can say because everything is locked."

The blaze started despite a visible presence on site.

"The Fire Marshal has been here," said Perez. "We've had our guys training here, personal training here, we've done pre-plans, we've done inspections."

This fire, as well as the five previous fires, were at building number 231, but that doesn't mean those living in other buildings at Gateway Estates aren't on edge.

"I'm just worried for my kids," said Yoharis Oquendo," we live on the second floor, the bedroom is on the second floor, what am I supposed to do with a three and one-year-old if something like this happens in my building?"

This time the 40 units were so badly damaged that residents can't return. And this 7th blaze bringing the Fire Marshal is giving little comfort to those calling it home.

"If this is happening again they are not scared of them investigating," said Oquendo.

Residents who have been displaced were instructed to go to the North End Senior Center. Residents going to the Center should check in with the staff so that appropriate services can be provided. The contact number for the Senior Center is 860-528-2879.