Cause Of Vernon Tenement Fire To Remain Unknown: Fire Marshal

VERNON, CT — The cause of a fire that tore through a tenement in the Rockville section of Vernon last month that also spread to an adjacent multi-family home is officially in the books at undetermined, according to the local fire marshal.

"Indeterminate" was the official ruling rendered by Vernon Fire Marshal Daniel Wasilewski when asked about it by Patch Tuesday.

The March 29 fire on the corner of Ward and Union streets displaced 25 people and kept firefighters busy for hours.

The initial call came in at 5:08 p.m. at 80-82 Union Street. When firefighters arrived, the building was engulfed in heavy smoke. Some residents had to be rescued with ladders thrown onto the side of the building. The fire then spread to 330 Ward St., located to the rear of the circa 1800s building.

Firefighters were still battling the blaze until about 10 p.m. and water could be seen pouring into the Union Street building as smoke was still billowing out of it.

Two people were taken to nearby Rockville General Hospital for smoke inhalation, Wasilewski said.

No one else was injured.

In all, 15 people were displaced from 80-82 Union St., a large multi-family building that dates back to the 1800s, according to Wasilewski.

He said 80-82 Union St. is being considered a total loss.

Another 10 people were displaced from 33 Ward St., he added.