SOMERS, Conn — Four children died after a fire ripped through a Somers multi-family home, officials confirmed Wednesday morning.
Somers Fire Chief John Roache said the fire started around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. When fire crews got to the two-family home on Quality Avenue just off Main Street, they saw large flames shooting from the first and second floors. There were reports of people trapped inside, and crews immediately began a rescue operation.
According to Roache, firefighters had to rescue several people, and one person had to jump out of a second-floor window to escape the flames. Three people were injured, as well as one responding firefighter, according to state police.
First Selectman Tim Keeney confirmed the ages of the children who died as 5, 6, 8, and 12, and they are all from the same family. Keeney said mental health services would be available for the first responders, students, and staff at the schools the children attended.
The Somers superintendent's office released a statement regarding the passing of their students:
Our Somers Public Schools Community is dealing with this tragic event. Our counseling staff will provide support to students throughout the week as needed. Our staff, students, and families will support each other as we navigate this tragedy.
Fire crews had difficulty fighting the fire due to the back entrance being blocked, and at first, they had a hard time getting inside.
Eleven people lived in the home - four people lived in one apartment in the house and seven others occupied the other side, officials said.
“It’s a tremendous loss for the town,” Keeney told reporters on the scene Wednesday morning. “An incredible loss, a tragedy the town hasn’t seen forever that I’m aware of. I’ve lived here my whole life.”
"This is a small community, so everybody knows everybody else...so it definitely hurts," Roache said during a media update Wednesday afternoon.
The house is considered a total loss, and the state fire marshal will be investigating the cause of the fire.
The town of Somers has launched the Angel Fund to help the family, according to Somers Human Services. Checks can be made payable to the Town of Somers Angel Fund, 619 Main St., Somers, CT 06071.
This is a developing story.
Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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