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New Britain fire that killed 11-year-old accidental, caused by smoking materials

NEW BRITAIN–A cause has been determined in the fatal fire earlier this month that left 11-year-old Cade Townsend IV dead. The fire that occurred on Octobe...
New Britain fire that killed 11-year-old accidental, caused by smoking materials

The fire that occurred on October 6 at 756 East Street in New Britain was accidental, according to the New Britain Fire Marshal’s Office. The fire was caused by smoking materials that weren’t properly disposed of, and the fire started on the first floor front porch.

“What makes this situation all the more tragic and heartbreaking is that something like an improperly discarded smoking material had such an unbelievably major consequence, costing a child his life and devastating a family,” said New Britain Fire Chief Thomas Ronalter.

The firefighters who responded to the fire tried multiple attempts to find and rescue Cade, but the fast-moving flames had already engulfed all three floors by the time the Fire Department arrived on scene.

Here are some tips from the New Britain Fire Department on how to prevent fires:

New Britain fire that killed 11-year-old accidental, caused by smoking materials

If a fire does happen, crawl low to the ground under smoke, get out and stay out of the house and go to the meeting place your family set up.

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