ATF investigating Middletown fire that burned for five hours

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Local fire investigators and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms spent much of Friday on Knapp Avenue in Middletown looking into what caused a fire to spread so quickly, consuming a single-family home. Firefighters at the scene said six people were initially trapped on the second floor. They rescued two, and four managed to jump out. One of the home's residents died, the fire chief said, and the five others were rushed to the hospital with burn injuries. Middletown fire officials said the first call came in at 5:22 a.m. Friday, and upon arrival, the three-story home was fully engulfed. Several nearby residents told News 12 they noticed thick, black smoke over the city for most of the morning rush hour. Neighbor Richard Martinez had a bad feeling. "We were just driving to the Y[MCA]," he said. "The streets were already blocked off and we just saw the smoke billowing." Middletown Fire Chief Bob Brady said all firefighters on scene emerged without any physical injuries, though they will likely remember Friday for a long time. "It affects everyone, honestly," Brady said. "Anytime someone has a tragedy, a loss of life, everyone takes it personally." "