5 Family Members Perish in Blaze
Update, 1:15 pm – Press conference of mayor and fire chief video added. Scroll down.
Update #2: Identities of most victims disclosed.
A 5 AM HOUSE FIRE IN STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, Sunday morning took the lives of three children and their grandparents. Two other people escaped the blaze in what Stamford Mayor, Michael Pavia called, "(A) terrible, terrible day for the city of Stamford. There probably has not been a worse Christmas day in the city."
Bettina Hansen / Hartford Courant photo
Acting Fire Chief Antonio Conte said attempts by firefighters to rescue the house's occupants were pushed back by intense flames and heat. They were able to rescue two adults, but were unable to reach the others. All the victims were on the second floor, some in the front of the house and the fatalities were located toward the rear.
Chief Conte said that the fire officials do not yet know the cause of the blaze and will not likely get clues for a few days until fire marshals can enter the house "and figure out what happened." The house is under a partial collapse and is not yet tenable, however all the victims have been removed.
Conte said he did not know the conditions of the two survivors. "We had our hands full from the moment we arrived on the scene," he said.
When the fire department received the call at 4:52 am the house was already fully involved. Neighbors reported being awakened then by the sounds of screaming and seeing the house "fully ablaze." The dispatch advised multiple calls being received for a working fire next to 2241 Shippan Ave. Reports of children trapped in the house.
At 4:58 Eng. 4 marked on the scene with heavy fire on the 1st floor. Confirmed victims trapped 2nd floor, U4 requesting 2nd alarm.
There are also reports saying that the power was out in the neighborhood at the time.
There is no report on the conditions or identities of the two survivors, although we may learn that soon and will be posted as an update to this story.
The Stamford Advocate has the latest DETAILS.
Update: The mayor and fire chief held this press conference from the fire scene:
Update 2 – Most of the occupants have been identified. The two survivors rescued by the firefighters were a woman, Madonna Badgers, 47, and a man who has not yet been named. The three children were Badger's daughters Lilly, 9, and twins Grace and Sarah, 7. Badger's parents were the two adults that perished.
The Hartford Courant has an updated report HERE and a 19-image photo gallery HERE.
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