WATERBURY -- Firefighters battled a three-alarm fire on Lounsbury Street that left up to 20 families displaced.
The fire started on the second floor of a three-story home and eventually spread to neighboring homes, impacting a total of four homes. The four multi-family homes are a total loss.
Fire Chief David Martin said four firefighters were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, and one for cardiac issues.
Firefighters experienced water supply issues at first and the location of the homes also made it difficult for crews to work their way around.
"The house across the street, it took two flights of stairs to basically get to the front door," said Martin. "A lot of the hoses, you got add-ons to the pre-connects to reach, to get deeper, into the home."
Martin said it appears that everyone made it out safely, but crews have been unable to enter the buildings due to the extensive damage.
No cause for the fire has been given at this time, and it remains under investigation. One man who lived in one of the damaged homes said he saw people barbecuing when flames suddenly shot up to the ceiling.
"A lot of the back yards on the side with three buildings, drop off drastically so there are some logistical issues in terms of accessing the entire building," Martin said.
Crews remained on the scene Thursday morning. Eversource Energy was also on scene to cut off electricity in the neighborhood for everyone's safety.