NEW HAVEN — Seven people safely escaped a blaze that destroyed a two-family home in New Haven Sunday morning.

Police department spokesman Officer David B. Hartman said crews were called to 55 Redfield St. around 8:02 a.m.

"The blaze was significant," Hartman said. "The building itself will likely be razed. It is beyond repair."

Hartman said flames had forced two residents to the second floor balcony at the front of the three-story structure. Responding Officer Carlos Ortiz and neighbor Delvin Prescod grabbed a ladder from a neighbor's yard and extended it to the balcony.

Prescod and Ortiz climbed the ladder and were able to rescue the two residents, Hartman said.

A second responding officer, Vanessa Thompson, helped lead five additional residents and two dogs to safety, he said.

The fire was extinguished around 11 a.m., Hartman said. Five of the seven residents were taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital for smoke inhalation treatment and one resident, an unidentified adult woman, is also being treated for minor burns, he said.

Hartman added that the multi-family home nextdoor, 51 Redfield St., suffered thermal and water damage. Eight residents, including two children, were evacuated from that home.

"The damage could have been worse," Hartman said.

Hartman said arson investigators and the Fire Marshal's Office are at the scene and are currently investigating the fire's origin.

"It's too early to speculate on what exactly started this fire," Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Marcarelli said. "We're focused on safety at this point. What sparked this blaze will be under investigation for some time."

Hartman said Redfield Street will likely remain closed for hours as crews remain on scene. Power has been shut down to the block and some homes will be without gas service for a while, he said.

Hartman said 50 firefighters fought the fire. The American Red Cross, New Haven's Livable Cities Initiative, the city's building enforcement and police departments, Southern Connecticut Gas Company and the New Haven Office of Emergency Management also assisted.

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