Late Saturday night, a fast-moving apartment fire on Foster Street in Manchester turned a routine alarm into a life-or-death rescue operation. One resident died, and 17 others lost their homes.
This blog breaks down what happened at the 24-unit rooming house at 109 Foster Street. We’ll look at how Manchester firefighters responded and what this means for people living in Connecticut communities—places like Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Waterbury, and smaller towns such as Vernon, East Hartford, Glastonbury, and Enfield.
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Manchester Rooming House Fire Turns Deadly Late Saturday Night
The Manchester Fire Department said the emergency began with an automatic fire alarm just after 11 p.m. at a multi-unit rooming house on Foster Street.
These buildings, common in older mill-town neighborhoods across Connecticut, often house some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.
Within minutes, what started as a standard alarm call became a full-scale rescue and fire suppression operation. The response stretched through the night and left a mark on this Manchester neighborhood.
Automatic Alarm at 109 Foster Street Quickly Escalates
Firefighters got dispatched at 11:01 p.m. after an automatic alarm signaled trouble at 109 Foster Street, a 24-unit rooming house in Manchester. When they arrived, they found a working apartment fire on the first floor.
Instead of a minor incident, crews had to move fast with an aggressive interior attack. They entered the smoke-filled building, tracked down the fire, and searched every floor for anyone trapped inside.
Firefighters Conduct Aggressive Attack and Multiple Rescues
Manchester fire crews immediately started what officials called an aggressive interior attack. Firefighters use this tactic when they think people can still be saved and the building is safe enough to enter.
At the same time, teams checked each unit. In older structures like this one—found in cities from New Britain to Stamford—interior hallways can act like chimneys, quickly channeling heat and smoke between floors.
Three People Rescued, One via Ladder Truck
The search and rescue phase was critical. Firefighters managed to rescue three people from the burning building.
One resident made it out thanks to a ladder truck, which shows just how bad conditions inside had become. Interior escape routes were either blocked or too dangerous.
One person went to a local hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. That outcome shows how quick response and coordinated rescues can change the story during a late-night fire.
One Resident Found Deceased on the Second Floor
Despite the fast action and several rescues, the situation turned tragic. Firefighters found a second-floor occupant deceased at the scene during their search.
Authorities haven’t released more details about the victim as they work through notifications and the investigation. For Manchester and nearby towns like East Hartford and Vernon, a fatal fire in a multi-unit residence hits hard.
These buildings are often crucial for affordable housing, and a loss of life highlights ongoing struggles with fire safety.
Fire Quickly Knocked Down but Building Left Uninhabitable
Fire crews brought the blaze under control pretty quickly, stopping it from spreading through all 24 units. Their actions likely saved more lives and kept some of the building from being totally destroyed.
Still, smoke, heat, and water damage made the whole building uninhabitable. Even if flames stay in a few rooms, damage to wiring, the structure, and life-safety systems can make living there impossible until major repairs happen.
Seventeen Residents Displaced, Red Cross Steps In
After the fire, 17 residents were displaced from the 24-unit rooming house. For many, this kind of housing is a last resort, so losing it overnight is especially tough.
The American Red Cross is now helping those affected, offering temporary shelter, clothing, and basic needs. This kind of support happens often in fire incidents in cities like Bridgeport, Waterbury, and Hartford, where multi-family and rooming-house fires can leave many people without a place to stay.
Fire Marshal Investigating Cause and Origin
The Manchester Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the origin and cause of the fire. That process usually includes:
What investigators find here could shape future fire-prevention efforts in Manchester and other Connecticut communities—from Glastonbury and Enfield to bigger cities like New Haven and Stamford.
What This Fire Means for Connecticut Residents
This Manchester fire serves as a sharp wake-up call. A late-night alarm can turn into a fatal emergency in minutes.
People living in multi-unit housing—whether in older properties in New Britain, triple-deckers in Waterbury, or rooming houses scattered across Hartford and New Haven—really need to stick to some basic fire-safety steps:
It’s tough for the Manchester community to process this loss. But maybe, just maybe, what happened at 109 Foster Street will push other neighborhoods in Connecticut to take fire safety a bit more seriously.
Here is the source article for this story: 1 Found Dead After Fire Causes Major Damage At Housing Complex In Manchester, Officials Say
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