Trending Topics

Conn. firefighters go defensive to battle 2-alarm abandoned apartment fire

Hartford firefighters faced heavy fire conditions at an abandoned three-story apartment building in the South End and operated defensively

By Jesse Leavenworth
Journal Inquirer

HARTFORD, Conn. — Hartford firefighters worked to douse a fierce blaze that ripped through a vacant apartment building on Franklin Avenue late Saturday.

No one was hurt, the fire department reported. Crews responded to the 100 block of Franklin Avenue around 11:30 p.m. and arrived to find heavy fire through most of the three-story building, officials said.

| READ NEXT: Fire command: Going defensive

Due to the volume of fire and unsafe conditions, crews operated defensively, a news release said. A second alarm was transmitted shortly after to bring in more personnel and resources, especially given the frigid temperatures and the need to frequently rotate firefighters, the release said.

The blaze caused severe damage throughout the building, said District Fire Chief Mario Oquendo Jr, the fire department spokesperson.

The fire extended to an adjacent building, but crews prevented any major damage, the release said. Another nearby building sustained minor damage due to broken windows from a partial collapse of the destroyed apartment building, officials said.

The Hartford Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the blaze, the release said.

Trending
Cooper died in June from occupational lung cancer after decades of service, and his family will receive $100,000 in state death benefits
The Napa Firefighters Museum has marked a major step toward reopening after the 2014 earthquake
First responders in Berks County took part in specialized training designed to help recognize autism-related behaviors, communicate more effectively and reduce the risk of escalation during critical emergency calls
City Council Speaker Julie Menin called for the city to make “every single file” public after an internal memo showed officials feared toxic exposure weeks after 9/11

© 2025 Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn..
Visit www.journalinquirer.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Company News
Hexagon’s next-generation platform provides faster, smarter emergency response