Good Samaritan runs into burning building, saves neighbors

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- An early morning fire in Hartford that sent five people to the hospital is under investigation.

News 8 found out that the number of those hurt could have been higher if not for a good Samaritan.

The flames started at 3:30 a.m., while most of the people in the three-story apartment building were asleep. Fortunately, a neighbor was out getting a bite to eat and spotted people inside.

"So I made sure I got them out of there, and they were coughing and stuff and so I made sure I walked them down the stairs," said Carl McQuillar. "And when that was going on, I was banging on the doors to make sure everybody was out of there."

Soon after that, fire crews took care of the rest.

"First two companies arriving were able to evacuate the building," said Deputy Chief David Serpliss, Hartford Fire Dept. "Four adults and one child were sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation."

It only took firefighters about a half an hour to get the fire under control, but that was plenty of time to do lots of damage. News 8 spoke to the tenant in a second floor unit, asking him if he was okay. He told News 8 he wasn't hurt, but his home is now a mess.

The fire seemed to start on the top rear of the building, maybe the back porch. In between dousing hot spots, firefighters let some tenants in to grab clothes.

One mom grabbed her son's favorite toy: a little fire truck. All the human tenants made it out alive, but the neighbor McQuillar couldn't save one feline tenant.

"No, it didn't make it. The cat didn't make it. But as long as they made it out safe...you can get another cat, get another life," said McQuillar.

The Fire Marshal's office is now looking into what started the fire.