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One Firefighter Dies, Three Injured in Hartford Blaze

Hartford Fire Department

A Connecticut firefighter has died and three others have been injured in a house fire in Hartford. 

The firefighter killed was Kevin Bell, 48. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Governor Dannel Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman sent their condolences to the families of the firefighters and called them heroes. 

“Tonight’s tragic events are another reminder of the incredible sacrifice that our state’s first responders make on a daily basis,” Malloy said in a statement late on Tuesday. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the hero we lost tonight and those who were injured in the line of duty in our capital city.”  

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra said on Tuesday, “Tonight, as a result of a fire on Blue Hills Avenue, we lost one of our brave Hartford firefighters. He lost his life through the heroic action of saving others. We also had three firefighters who suffered injuries. Our hearts are heavy with the knowledge that these brave men and women risk their lives every day to protect our city and our families. The sheer acceptance of this responsibility makes them heroes. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families.”

Credit Hartford Fire Department
/
Hartford Fire Department
The Engine 16 fire house on Blue Hills Avenue in Hartford.

NBC Connecticut reported the fire broke out about 7:00 pm on Tuesday and residents made it out of the home safely. From their earlier report:

According to state records, the last time a Hartford firefighter died while extinguishing a fire was in 1974. Authorities have not publicly identified the firefighter who died, but said he was a 48-year-old Hartford native and six-year veteran of the fire department. "Our hearts are extremely heavy at this time with the knowledge that these brave men and women risk their lives every day to protect our city," Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra said at the media briefing. "The simple acceptance of that responsibility on its own terms makes them heroes." A second injured firefighter was transferred to Bridgeport Hospital with burns to over 10 percent of his body, according to Segarra. Although his injuries are serious, he's expected to survive. Two other firefighters remain in stable condition at Saint Francis Hospital, authorities said.

A witness told the TV station she saw a firefighter jump out of a window amid billowing, blinding smoke.

The home is located on Blue Hills Avenue near Litchfield Street.

This report includes information from The Associated Press.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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