TORRINGTON - Fire crews had a tough time battling a blaze in a multi-family home on Main Street Tuesday afternoon.
The fire started around 11:37 a.m. and caused extensive damage to the building at 404 Main St. Officials believe the fire started in the basement and traveled up through all three floors - there are four apartments in the building.
The Torrington fire department first responded with limited resources due to a car crash across town. Mutual aid from other towns responded.
Due to the wind and cold, crews had to battle the fire from the outside.
"Due to the wind conditions also and a collapse in the building they withdrew from the fire and went defensive pretty much early on in the fire," Torrington Deputy Fire Chief Gary Brunoli said.
Four people were home at the time. An adult and child were taken to the hospital. There is no word yet on the extent of their injuries, but they were able to leave the house on their own. Two other people refused treatment at the scene.
The fire was put out around 1:45 p.m. The American Red Cross is helping 10 people--seven adults and three children, part of four families--who were displaced by the fire.
“Today was the first very cold day of the season,” said American Red Cross spokesperson Paul Shipman. “We are especially grateful to the volunteers who worked so hard and the donors who made it possible to provide these families a safe, warm place to stay and help with basic clothes and food needs to get them on the road to recovery.”
