

Dedicated to the Men & Women of the Baltic Fire Department
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Two Sprague residents have been displaced from their apartment in the Baltic section of town following a fire late Monday morning.
It happened about 11:19 a.m., in unit D of a complex at 121 W. Main St., Baltic Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Tardif said. The fire broke out in a bathroom ceiling fan light fixture but was quickly extinguished at the scene.
However, heavy smoke and soot damage rendered the unit uninhabitable, Tardif said.
“You’ve got to get somebody in there to inspect the place and make sure it’s safe,” he said. “Nobody is going to live in that type of environment.”
Fire Marshal Rich Hamel and Building Inspector Joseph Smith could not be reached for comment Monday.
About an hour after the incident, Connecticut Red Cross officials began mobilizing to help the displaced tenants with financial aid for emergency clothing and food, agency spokesman Paul Shipman said.
Shipman said the people found their own accommodations, but need help in other areas until they can return to their apartment.
“Each case is different. We’re going to sit down and work with the affected family,” he said.
Shipman said the state’s Red Cross chapter responds to about 500 fires a year and relies on community donations to help keep its operations intact.