Four children from one family dead following house fire. ‘Somers community is dealing with an unimaginable loss’

The Somer community is reeling after four children died when a fire tore through a multi-family home in the quiet northern Connecticut town Tuesday night.

The fire was reported at 10:20 p.m. at a two-family home located at 44 Quality Ave., where the first crews were on the scene within five minutes and quickly entered the two-story structure to try to rescue anyone inside, according to Chief John Roache of the Somers Fire Department. The front of the home was completely engulfed in flames and firefighters had received reports indicating multiple people were trapped on the second floor.

The residence is home to eight people who live on the left side of the structure — seven of whom were home when the fire broke out — and four people on the right side, Roache said, adding that the family of four made it out safely and were uninjured.

Fire crews quickly removed two children from the blaze. One of them was pronounced dead after being taken to Johnson Memorial Hospital and the other was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the chief.

Shortly thereafter, crews located two additional children in the home who were pronounced dead. According to First Selectman Tim Keeney, the four children killed in the blaze were ages 5, 6, 8 and 12.

A woman who identified herself as Jessica Marie, saying she is a cousin of the family that lost four children, started a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs. It had raised just over $17,000 of its $50,000 goal as of the early afternoon hours Wednesday.

Officials on Wednesday said they would not be identifying the juveniles until after their autopsies were performed — which was expected to happen Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning.

“It’s a tremendous loss for the town,” Keeney said.

“A tremendous tragedy and it’s going to take us a long time to get over this and we’re doing everything we can for the family,” Keeney continued.

According to Roache, an adult child jumped from a second-story window to make it out of the home safely. In total, the chief said three survivors suffered injuries, including one adult and two children, and were taken to the hospital. One of the survivors had serious burns, Roache said. The others suffered minor injuries.

One firefighter suffered burns and was treated at an area hospital Wednesday before being released, according to Roache.

The fire chief said the blaze quickly spread from the first floor to the second and cut off access to the staircase. He said the age of the home — which he believes was built in the 1950s or ’60s — meant that the balloon frame construction style provided “numerous concealed spaces” that allowed the fire to spread rapidly.

The fire was finally placed under control shortly after midnight and left extensive damage, Roache said. The home is expected to be a total loss.

David Kellam, who lives across the street from the home, told the Courant he bolted into action without hesitation when he suddenly heard his fiancee scream “fire across the street” late Wednesday. He said he ran across the street and kicked the door down, believing that multiple dogs on the first floor were actually the children trapped inside.

Inside the home, Kellam said he could see a Christmas tree burning and that the staircase was covered in flames. He said he grabbed the dogs and brought them to safety before trying to go back into the home, but at that point the flames were too strong.

“I tried to go back in, but the flames were just too much,” Kellam said.

According to Roache, three dogs were rescued and a litter of puppies was killed in the blaze.

Kellam said he did not know the family very well, but he often saw the children playing peacefully in the yard. He said they seemed like “nice people.”

“It’s horrifying,” Kellam said. “I can’t even imagine. It’s a shame. It’s just terrible.”

Keeney on Wednesday morning said Somers school officials were immediately notified of the tragedy, as all four children who died were a part of the school system. He added that his wife used to be a teacher at an elementary school in town and may have known the children.

“Our Somers community is dealing with an unimaginable loss,” Superintendent of Schools Sam Galloway said in a statement to the school community.

“The first priority is to focus on the affected families, students, and staff who have been most impacted by this tragedy,” Galloway said. “Extra counseling and support were immediately dispatched to each school location for students and staff members. Assistance will be ongoing as we begin to process this tremendous loss.

“The Somers Public Schools’ Crisis Management Team will continue to partner with our town and community support services to assist our school community. Our thoughts and prayers go out to our entire Somers Family as we continue to help each other and heal in the days coming.”

In multiple online social media groups, hundreds of town residents expressed grief for the children and families. Many offered help, including starting fundraising and donation locations. Three of children attended Somers Elementary School. The family on the other half of the two-family house also lost their home.

People are offering bedrooms in their homes for those displaced. There are also many comments praising the firefighters for their efforts and asking for thoughts and prayers for them as well.

State Sen. John Kissel, who represents Somers, issued a statement Wednesday calling the fire “absolutely heartbreaking.”

“Our prayers go out to the victims, to their loved ones, to the fire personnel, and to everyone in Somers,” Kissel said. “This is such a tragedy, and as a state, we grieve collectively.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are out with the families that are involved with this right now,” Roache said.

The Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit and the Eastern District Major Crime Squad responded to assist in the investigation. The crime squad has been tasked with investigating the fatalities involved, while the fire and explosion investigation unit will work with the local fire marshal in Somers to determine the cause and origin of the blaze.

“It’s going to take some time,” Trooper First Class Pedro Muniz of the Connecticut State Police said at a press conference Wednesday at the Somers Fire Department.

Muniz asked anyone with video of the fire to contact state police and share it to help investigators.

When asked whether the Christmas tree in the home could have contributed to the blaze, Muniz said “I can’t rule that out right now.”

“We don’t know if there was a Christmas tree involved,” he continued. “It was burnt up, so (investigators) have to determine what caused that fire.”

Dean Karoliszyn said in an email that his sister, Bonnie Karoliszyn, and her family escaped from the horrific fire but lost everything “other than the pajamas they were wearing when they ran from their burning home.”

He said his other sister, Colleen Karoliszyn, started a gofundme that is drawing a major outpouring from the community to help them.

Officials at the news conference said the families affected have asked that monetary donations be sent to Town of Somers Angel Fund. Donations can be mailed to 619 Main St., Somers, 06071.

Survivors of the fire are being assisted by Somers Social Services and the American Red Cross.