All occupants safely evacuated from the fire in the two-story apartment building. [Updated]

West Hartford firefighters battle a blaze on Steven Street on March 6, 2024. Photo courtesy of West Hartford Fire Department

By Ronni Newton

Firefighters were able to knock down a blaze in a two-story apartment building in about 20 minutes Wednesday evening, officials said, and all occupants were evacuated without injury.

According to West Hartford Fire Chief Greg Priest, an occupant of an apartment on Steven Street reported the fire at approximately 7:13 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6.

The first units from the fire department, along with West Hartford Police and American Medical Response, arrived at 7:18 p.m., Priest said, and initially observed light smoke that was visible from the exterior of the two-story building. Once inside, firefighters discovered an active, working fire in a first floor unit, Priest told We-Ha.com. Additional units were called to the scene.

West Hartford firefighters battle a blaze on Steven Street on March 6, 2024. Photo courtesy of West Hartford Fire Department

There were two occupants of the unit where the fire began, Priest said, and they had already evacuated in response to hearing the fire alarm and discovering the fire. There were no injuries to those individuals or to responders, Priest said.

Priest said a pet in the apartment where the fire began was also evacuated by its owner without incident. A pet that was in the apartment above the unit where the fire occurred was located by a member of the fire department and reunited with its owner.

The fire was reported under control at 7:39 p.m., and firefighters confirmed that the blaze was contained to the apartment unit where it began, Priest said.

While other apartments in the building were not directly impacted by the fire, one occupant of an adjacent unit was evaluated for exposure to smoke, but declined transport to the hospital, Priest said.

While all West Hartford fire companies responded to the scene, Hartford and UConn fire departments provided coverage of the town through mutual aid.

The apartment where the fire occurred was evaluated by a representative of West Hartford’s Building Department, and Priest said it was declared uninhabitable.

He said later Wednesday night that two residents of an adjacent apartment were also being relocated due to smoke in their unit.

Assistance to the displaced residents will be provided by the Red Cross.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the West Hartford Fire Marshal’s Office.

“We greatly appreciate the assistance of the West Hartford Emergency Reporting Center, West Hartford Police, AMR, and our mutual aid partners,” Priest said in an email.

West Hartford firefighters battle a blaze on Steven Street on March 6, 2024. Photo courtesy of West Hartford Fire Department

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