3 found dead in Connecticut fire

Fire tore through three homes on Friday, killing three people whose bodies were found huddled in the rubble, injuring four others and leaving 20 people homeless, authorities said.

A man, a woman and their 1-year-old child were found dead in a building where the top two floors of a three-story building had collapsed, said Deputy Fire Chief Robert Petrucelli.

"All three were huddled together in the collapsed rubble," Petrucelli said.

A neighbor reported that the father had helped two boys escape before he died by tossing or lowering them out of a second-floor window, Petrucelli said. Firefighters received reports that another person who lived in the building was unaccounted for, but officials said no body was found.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Neighbor Iola Tuft said the fire was so hot she could feel it across the street.

"I could see the flames going from the side of the house into the next house," she said. "It was really bad."

John Cappiello, a spokesman at Bridgeport Hospital, said an adult had been treated and released for smoke inhalation. He said another adult and two boys had been admitted for treatment of smoke inhalation and were in fair condition Friday.

A firefighter was also hospitalized with a broken leg, Martin said.

The American Red Cross was helping 20 people, about half of them children, who were left homeless by the fire, an agency official said.

Neighbor Edgar Mambreno said the people killed were hardworking immigrants from Mexico who used to live in his house, but moved a few years ago when their family grew.

"They were good people," he said.