A fire on Deerfield Ave. in Hartford sent one firefighter to the Hospital Monday afternoon.
David OwensContact Reporter
A fire that heavily damaged a multifamily home and injured a firefighter has been labeled "suspicious," police said Tuesday.
The city fire marshal and the police department's arson investigators were called to the scene of Monday's fire, Deputy Police Chief Brian Foley said; the investigation is ongoing.
The fire at 9 Deerfield Ave. was called in about 4:40 p.m. Monday and when the first firefighters arrived flames were shooting from the home's second floor, Fire Capt. Raul Ortiz said. Firefighters went into the house to search for people and to begin attacking the flames, he said.
Initial reports were that there were children in the 2 1/2-story house, but all people were out when firefighters arrived, Ortiz said. Firefighters did find two kittens in the house.
The firefighter who suffered heat exhaustion was taken by an American Medical Response ambulance crew to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center for treatment.
Firefighters and police cared for the kittens found inside the house. Officer Kate Grissler held one of the kittens while she and fellow officers observed the fire from nearby Albany Avenue.
"She's all right, a little scared," Grissler said as the kitten meowed. Officers named the cat Smokey, but a firefighter said firefighters had named it Deerfield. Grissler said the kitten was going to be taken to a veterinarian to be checked.
Hartford police officer Kate Grissler comforts a kitten removed from 9 Deerfield Avenue Monday afternoon. Firefighters found two kittens while searching the house, which was heavily damaged by fire.
(David Owens/ Hartford Courant)
The fire consumed the second and third floors of the home, police said.
The house appeared to have been recently renovated with a new roof and vinyl siding.
