Firefighters had their hands full tackling an early morning two-alarm at 889 Park St., in the city's Frog Hollow neighborhood, on July 9.
First-arriving Engine 8, with their quarters located less than half a mile away, reported heavy smoke and fire from the roof of a large four-story brick residential-over-commercial occupancy. The structure sits on a busy street corner, which actually aided in the positioning of aerial apparatus.
A second alarm was transmitted after companies discovered flames running the structure's cockloft. To make matters worse, mid-summer morning oppressive heat and humidity took its toll on members.
Ladder 5 was positioned on the structure's A-side, Ladder 6 took the B-side and Ladder 2 the B/C corner. With heavy smoke and fire chugging through the cockloft, interior companies were ordered to evacuate while all three tower-ladders prepared to open their master streams.
The blaze was brought under control in just under two hours, with extensive overhaul required. There were no known injuries to members or civilians.
The cause of the fire was under investigation by the Hartford Fire Department's Fire Marshal's Office.