'Alarming' Rise in Fatal Fires Concerns CT Officials

In just over a month, 11 people have died in fires across Connecticut.

“In just over one month the state of Connecticut has seen an alarming increase in fatal fires,” said a statement from the Connecticut Fire Academy.

The fires broke out in Oxford, Shelton, New Britain, North Branford, Bloomfield, Killingly, Somers and Windham. Those eight fires have led to the deaths of 11 people — five in just one week

“Since late February, there have been eight separate fatal fires in our state,” said William Abbott, the state fire marshal. “This is in addition to numerous other fires where individuals are injured.”

Typically, winter is the worst season for fires because of heating systems and supplemental heater usage, according to the Connecticut Fire Academy.

After the recent fatal fires, CFA officials urged residents to check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and set up an escape plan in case of an emergency. The academy said heating systems and fireplaces should be checked regularly for any potential problems.

A fire led to the deaths of two brothers in New Britain on Feb. 24. Neighbors told the Hartford Courant one of the brothers initially escaped the fast-moving fire, but went back inside to rescue his brother.

Generally speaking, the Connecticut Fire Academy warned that residents should never go back inside a building that is on fire.

On March 1, a man died after a fire broke out in his mobile home in North Branford. According to the Hartford Courant, officials said the fire was likely caused by smoking.

“If you or anyone in your home smokes, be extra careful with smoking materials as they are the most common cause of fatal house fires in the U.S.,” the CFA said.

Six days later, on March 7, an early morning fire claimed a Bloomfield woman’s life.

On March 17, a fire erupted at a woman’s home in Shelton. She died two days later.

On March 25, a woman was found as firefighters battled a blaze at a house in Windham. She was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The next day, a fire in Oxford took the lives of two brothers, their longtime friend and a dog.

A fire broke out around 1 a.m. on March 28 at a house in Killingly, which left one woman dead. That same day, one man died and two firefighters were injured in a two-alarm house fire in Somers.

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