17 people displaced, dog and cat dead, after fire in New Haven

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WFSB) - More than a dozen people, and several pets, will have to find a new place to stay after a 2-alarm fire ripped through a building in New Haven.

Firefighters rushed to the home on Lombard Street just after 2:15 this afternoon.

They say they saw heavy smoke and flames shooting up from the roof before they got the fire under control.

They spent hours tending to hot spots and trying to salvage some of the items inside.

One woman who lived in the home said she was heartbroken when she saw what was happening.

“Devastation. I see my whole kids, everything they have in the world being taken away from them,” said Tiffany Rowe, New Haven. “Now we just look and we see destruction.”

17 people and 10 pets have been displaced from the home. The Red Cross is helping those displaced find hotels to stay.

At least two animals, a dog and a cat, have died.

“He was a baby. Like, just a puppy. Not even six months old. He was little,” said Tiffany.

When firefighters handed Tiffany a basket with her puppy’s remains, she was heartbroken.

“He was born with disabilities, so he had no hope of getting out unless someone was to rescue him,” explained Tiffany.

She was out with her children when the fire started.

“I got a call when I was on the train saying that I had to get home now. That there was flames shooting through the roof,” Tiffany said.

Firefighters raced to get the fire under control and salvage everything they could from inside.

“Heavy damage on the third floor, second floor. It went down to the second floor as well, so you know, from the second floor down, we’re worried about water damage,” said Joe Hilbert, Battalion Chief.

“We may have lost physical things, but my children are okay,” Tiffany added. “All the humans that lived in the house are fine. we’re just missing our furbabies now.”

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