Three-alarm fire at six-family home

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Updated: Tuesday, 24 Mar 2009, 11:17 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 24 Mar 2009, 5:12 PM EDT

Torrington (WTNH) - Investigators are working on what caused a fire at a multi-family home. The three-alarm fire forced at least 18 people from the building.

Firefighters dump as much water on the fire as they can. It's been six hours since the call came in and still the fire refuses to go out. It is a large wooden apartment building, six units in all, and as soon at the captain arrived on the scene, he knew this would be trouble.

"I struck a second alarm immediately," said Captain Joe McElroy of the Torrington Fire Department. "I had one engine tied up at a brush fire, and only six firefighters on arrival, so I needed help."

Firefighters say the blaze broke out shortly after noon, a grease fire in the kitchen spread within minutes. Donny Albrect lives across the street and caught the flames exploding out the windows.

"It had to be it had to be 40, 50, 60 feet up," said Albrect. "It was a lot of flames; rally a lot of flames. I was across the street and you could really feel the heat and the smoke was coming over."

Even five hours after the fire started, they are trying to get enough water up over the top and down onto it; they need to have CL&P come in and cut the power so they can start dumping water on it from the top.

"Once it gets in the walls, it's going to the third floor and attic immediately, so you need enough personnel to cover all the floors," Captain McElroy said.

There were 19 people living in the building, the owner was just up the street and raced over to make sure his tenants were okay.

"The guy was really upset and I said don't worry, you got yourself out you got your kids safe, that was my biggest concern," said owner Buzz Ebner.

Two firefighters were hurt, one with facial burns and another with a shoulder injury. Right now, the Salvation Army and Red Cross have stepped in to help the victims.

"Already raised $2,500 dollars from the community today," said Kris Martin of the Red Cross. "That will put them up at the local hotel and get them some clothes, because obviously they have nothing left."