Four children dead following house fire in Somers
Four children have died following a fire at a multi-family home in Somers Tuesday night, according to a town official.
Firefighters responded to the home on Quality Avenue at 10:20 p.m. and discovered that the front of the house was fully involved, according to the Somers Fire Department.
Somers Fire Chief John Roache said several people were rescued from the home and taken to multiple hospitals. Connecticut State Police confirmed multiple fatalities were reported following the blaze.
According to First Selectman Tim Keeney, the four children killed in the blaze were ages 5, 6, 8 and 12.
“It’s a tremendous loss for the town,” Keeney said.
“A tremendous tragedy and it’s going to take us a long time to get over this and we’re doing everything we can for the family,” Keeney continued.
Keeney on Wednesday morning said school officials were notified of the tragedy. He added that his wife used to be a teacher at an elementary school in town and may have known the children.
“Our Somers Public Schools Community is dealing with this tragic event,” the Somers Superintendent’s Office wrote in a statement.
“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.”
In multiple online social media groups, hundreds of town residents expressed grief for the children and families. Many offered help, including starting fundraising and donation locations. Three of children attended Somers Elementary School. The family on other the half of the two-family house also lost their home.
State Sen. John Kissel, who represents Somers, issued a statement Tuesday calling the fire “absolutely heartbreaking.”
“Our prayers go out to the victims, to their loved ones, to the fire personnel, and to everyone in Somers,” Kissel said. “This is such a tragedy, and as a state, we grieve collectively.”
According to Roache, the residence houses seven people on one side and another four on the other.
“Our thoughts and prayers are out with this families that are involved with this right now,” Roache said.
One victim jumped out of the second floor window to escape the blaze, Roache said, while the others in the home had to be rescued.
“It spread very quickly,” the fire chief said.
“The whole front of the house was very involved, the first floor right up to the second floor,” Roache said. “Limited access, very hard to get in there. But crews did an extraordinary, extraordinary job trying to get in there trying to do some rescues. They did several grabs and brought several victims out.”
According to Roache, some firefighters suffered minor “bumps and bruises,” but none required hospitalization.
The Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit and the Eastern District Major Crime Squad responded to assist in the investigation.
The crime squad has been tasked with investigating the fatalities involved, while the fire and explosion investigation unit will work with the local fire marshal in Somers to determine the cause and origin of the blaze.
The home is a total loss.
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