Connecticut
Hartford family calls on community after losing everything in fire
Last month, a heavy fire in Hartford took Rosa Arroyo’s home, where she lived with her mother, stepfather, husband and kids.
“Everything was a total loss.” Arroyo said outside of the motel she and her family are now staying at. “It’s not easy here being with kids and you know, it’s been a whole 360, a change.”
Arroyo says she lost her dog in the fire and her stepfather, 66-year-old Carlos Maldonado. She describes Maldonado as a hardworking man.
“I can say that he was a person that he had a heart for everyone,” she said. Maldonado was a father, son, stepfather, brother and grandfather. The family credits him for saving the life of his grandson of their GoFundMe page.
“He was a warrior,” said his sister Myriam Maldonado in Spanish. “He was always there for his family.”
The Hartford Fire Department says the fire started on the first floor of the multi-family home inside of the washing machine control panel. It spread, displacing five families.
Arroyo says her household is being helped by the American Red Cross, but the family has started two separate GoFundMe pages for the funeral and to get back up on their feet. She also says they’re asking the community for prayers.
“If anybody would like to help and because this was like I said, a very devastating loss both physical and everything that we lost,” she said.
Funeral arrangements for Maldonado are still being worked out by the family. Anyone interested in helping the family can click here.
Amtrak says it will not close any railroad bridges along Connecticut’s shoreline during the 2026 World Cup, backing away from a potential proposal that had sparked concerns from boaters, harbor officials, and marine businesses.
In an email Tuesday to NBC Connecticut, Amtrak spokesperson Jason Abrams said: “At this time, in coordination with the Coast Guard, we will not be closing any bridges on the Connecticut Coast Line during the tournament.”
The statement is a shift from a plan previously circulating among members of the boating community. That proposal outlined possible hourslong closures of several movable railroad bridges on the Connecticut shoreline on dates tied to World Cup matches in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The affected bridges would have included the spans over the Connecticut River, Niantic River, Shaw’s Cove, Thames River and Mystic River.
The proposal had raised alarms among charter boat operators, harbor masters and marine industry leaders, who warned the closures could disrupt navigation during the height of the summer season, create safety risks on crowded waterways and hurt businesses that depend on fishing and recreational boating.
Amtrak also said is “exploring all options to move travelers safely and reliably during the World Cup with minimal interruption and inconvenience to local communities, visitors, and other stakeholders and travelers.”
Fans are expected to use rail service along the Northeast Corridor to travel to matches in the Northeast, including in the Boston area, where passengers would use connecting service to reach the stadium in Foxborough.
Earlier Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard told NBC Connecticut it was reviewing Amtrak’s request related to the bridge proposal.
“The Coast Guard has received Amtrak’s request for the bridge closures and are reviewing it to reach a final decision. When that decision is made, the Coast Guard will work with Amtrak. We are also aware of the mariners and boating communities concerns regarding this,” the Coast Guard had said.
It was not immediately clear whether Amtrak had formally withdrawn that request or whether the rail operator’s latest statement means the bridge closures are no longer under consideration.
NBC Connecticut reached out to the Coast Guard to request additional information.
-
Dallas, TX5 minutes agoThe Brandon Aubrey Deal | DZTV
-
Miami, FL12 minutes agoRanking the Miami Heat’s Top Trade Targets
-
Boston, MA18 minutes agoFormer Massachusetts doctor faces 81 new sexual assault charges
-
Denver, CO24 minutes agoHouston County murder suspect returns to face charges after her arrest in Denver
-
Seattle, WA30 minutes agoWest Seattle Tool Library to host annual tool sale this Saturday, April 25 | The White Center Blog
-
San Diego, CA36 minutes agoBalboa Park museums see attendance decline of 34% in first quarter
-
Milwaukee, WI42 minutes agoMilwaukee County overdose deaths continue to fall, but challenges remain
-
Atlanta, GA48 minutes agoDozens arrested during raid of drug