The West Hartford Fire Department said all occupants were able to evacuate and there were no injuries.

West Hartford Fire Department units on the scene of a fire Feb. 11 at 298 Fern Street. Photo credit: Emily Baffaro

By Ronni Newton

A Fern Street home will be uninhabitable at least for a few days following a Saturday morning blaze, West Hartford Fire Department Deputy Chief Eric Munsell said in an email.

Munsell said the structure fire at 298 Fern Street was reported at 11:09 a.m. Saturday, and the West Hartford Fire Department’s Medic 22 unit arrived at the scene first, at 11:11 a.m., and observed a working fire with smoke apparent from the third story roof vents and attic area of the 1921 three-story colonial.

Smoke is visible from the third floor of a home at 298 Fern Street in West Hartford. Photo credit: Emily Baffaro

All four members of the family that owns and occupies the home were already out of the house and were able to evacuate without injury, Munsell said. No responders were injured during the incident either, he said.

Engine 1 arrived just before 11:13 a.m. and with the assistance of the medics already on the scene began to stretch a hose line to attack the fire from the interior. Munsell said that fire crews were able to locate and extinguish what was a “moderate volume of fire” in an area above the master bathroom in a small attic closet. Crews were able to avoid significant extension to other parts of the attic and third floor area, he said.

According to the Munsell, the homeowner said he had noticed smoke and some fire in the area of the ceiling fan in the master bathroom.

All units responded to the scene to ensure and confirm that the fire had not extended to other areas of the structure. In addition, the West Hartford Police Department assisted at the scene, blocking off the road and assisting at the unified command post. American Medical Response had a unit on standby, and the UConn Fire Department also arrived at the scene and then assisted by covering other parts of the town while West Hartford units were engaged. The Hartford Fire Department also provided mutual aid at Station 2, and the Newington Fire Department provided mutual aid at Station 3. The New Britain Fire Department was on standby as well, and Munsell expressed his thanks to all for the assistance.

Crews remained on the scene after quickly extinguishing the blaze to ensure that no hot spots remained, and also performed overall and some salvage work to limit damage to a newly remodeled kitchen area, Munsell said.

The West Hartford Fire Marshal is continuing to investigate, but said according to early finding the cause of the fire appears to be related to the fan unit in the master bedroom.

The Red Cross is working with the family to be sure their immediate needs are met while the home is uninhabitable, which will likely be at least several days. Fire officials said that when they left the scene the homeowners were already in touch with their insurance company.

West Hartford Fire Department units on the scene of a fire Feb. 11 at 298 Fern Street. Photo credit: Emily Baffaro

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