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Massive fire destroys half a block in Waterbury, displaces 15 people; three firefighters hurt
Summary
A large blaze tore through five buildings on South Main Street in Waterbury, displacing 15 people and injuring three firefighters. Business owner Pedro Ocasio lost his family restaurant and officials say the city is coordinating aid with the Red Cross while investigators work to determine the cause.
A large fire tore through roughly half a block on South Main Street in Waterbury, destroying five buildings and displacing 15 people, a field reporter said. Waterbury officials and residents described heavy damage and ongoing relief efforts.
Alicia Hercules, reporting live from the scene, said crews had boarded up broken windows and neighbors were beginning to organize recovery efforts. "It's been an emotional day for those who lived and worked in these now gutted buildings," she said.
Pedro Ocasio, the owner of La Borinquena restaurant, said he lost the business his family has operated since 1988. "Everything you work for is right there," Ocasio said, describing how he returned from a trip to find the restaurant engulfed. He said the building will likely be demolished and that he and his family will decide in the coming weeks whether to rebuild or relocate.
Mayor Paul Pernarusski, whom reporters said toured the scene with Gov. Ned Lamont, described how a police officer first noticed flames and sounded the alarm. "He called in the alarm. Within two minutes, the fire department was there," the mayor said, and he relayed that one firefighter fell between floors and three firefighters were hurt but are now recovering.
A resident, Navy veteran James Hansen, said he and his family had only "about 10 seconds to get out." "We have no clothes. We have nothing," Hansen said; the family is staying with relatives and hopes to receive assistance from Veterans Affairs.
City officials are working with the Red Cross to help those who lost everything, and an investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, the reporter said. Alicia Hercules signed off from the scene, identifying herself as the live correspondent for the station.
The immediate next steps are assistance for displaced residents and a fire investigation; no cause or determinations about liability were reported during the segment.
