Fire at 44 Lilley Road took West Hartford Fire Department an hour to control

Residents of 44 Lilley Road are relying on the Red Cross for housing after an afternoon fire at the three-story, multi-family residence. Initial reports were the blaze was caused by electrical issues but the fire marshal’s office is investigating the origin.

According to a West Hartford Fire Department statement, “This afternoon at 12:46 p.m. West Hartford Public Safety Dispatch received a report of an electrical fire in a [three-story multi-family residence] at 44 Lilley Road. West Hartford Fire was immediately dispatched along with the West Hartford Police Department and American Medical Response.

“The first fire unit arrived on scene a short 3 minutes later. A fire was discovered on the second and third floors, and the first unit transmitted a working fire. As units were preparing for a search/rescue and fire attack, additional information was provided that no one was currently in the residence but there were several animals. West Hartford fire crews immediately initiated an interior fire attack. Crews were faced with challenging fire conditions due to the type of construction of the residence (balloon frame).

“The bulk of fire was knocked down within an hour but crews remained for extensive overhaul of void spaces before placing the fire under control at 2:11 p.m. During the response to this incident, all on-duty West Hartford fire companies were on the scene, several off-duty firefighters were called back to cover Town. “Additionally, American Medical Response, numerous members of the West Hartford Police Department, Eversource, and CNG utilities crews were on scene. Several departments assisted at the scene (Hartford and the UConn Fire Department) and New Britain Fire assisted by covering the town while West Hartford units were committed at the fire.

“No injuries were reported to residents or responders. The residence suffered significant damage due to fire, smoke and water damage. The Red Cross is on scene assisting the residents and the building official has been contacted. Currently, the cause of the fire is under investigation by the West Hartford Fire Marshal’s office.

“We greatly value and appreciate the assistance of our fire service mutual aid partners as well as the assistance of the West Hartford Police and AMR,” said Fire Chief/Emergency Director Greg Priest.