VERNON, Conn. — Several people were rescued from a large fire at an apartment building in the Rockville Section of Vernon, Sunday.
The Vernon Fire Department responded to the building at 26 Union Street at around 10:45 a.m. The building is across the street from Rockville General Hospital.
One of the residents told FOX61 she escaped just in time.
"I’m really grateful I got out ... I’m just ... it’s scary," said Emily Phillips of Vernon.
"Clothes, bed, like I really don’t have anything pretty valuable up there but there’s a baby in the apartment right next door. I cant imagine how scary that was," added Phillips.
Several people were "hanging from windows" when firefighters first arrived, Assistant Fire Chief Robert Babcock said.
Seven adults were taken across the street to Rockville General Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. No children were treated at the hospital, fire officials said in a mid-day news conference.
The fire department was first alerted by an automatic fire alarm.
FOX61 Lauren Zenzie was at the scene and spoke to Vernon Police Lt. William Meier, who said that several people were rescued on ladders from the upper part of the building. Victims were transported to the Rockville Hospital. At least 15 people have been displaced.
The Red Cross is helping those who are displaced.
Fire departments from Bolton, South Windsor, Tolland and Ellington were called in to help fight the fire and cover any additional firefighting needs in the town.
Officials say the building has suffered significant damage, and crews will take several hours to clean up.
According to the fire marshal’s office, the fire was caused by unattended candles.
The people injured in the fire were escorted, carried in stretchers or wheeled in wheelchairs across the road to the hospital.
"We were literally walking people across the street into the emergency department,” Director of Emergency & Risk Management Michael Purcaro said.
Officials said the bulk of the fire damage was in two apartments, but all residents of the building’s 22 apartments were displaced Sunday night because electrical and gas service to the building was cut. The American Red Cross was assisting residents with lodging.
The fire department along with the Vernon Police Department are investigating the cause of the fire.
