Tenants Displaced by New Haven Apartment Fire Struggle to Find New Homes

Dozens of residents displaced after three-alarm blaze at Chapel Street apartment building

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Days after a three-alarm fire displaced them from their homes, the tenants of the five-story apartment building at 1523 Chapel St. in New Haven are searching for permanent housing. The fire broke out on Tuesday morning, forcing 79 residents to evacuate. About 55 tenants are currently staying at a local hotel, while others are staying with family and friends. Officials say the building has been condemned and there is no timeline yet for when it can be reoccupied. Residents are now trying to find new places to live amid the disruption.

Why it matters

The fire has caused significant upheaval for the residents of the Chapel Street apartment building, many of whom are low-income and now face the challenge of finding new housing on short notice. The incident highlights the difficulties tenants can face when natural disasters or other emergencies force them from their homes, and the importance of having strong community support systems in place to assist displaced residents.

The details

The fire broke out around 11:22 a.m. on Tuesday, with firefighters arriving to find three people hanging out of the building's windows in immediate danger. In total, the fire department rescued 11 tenants from the building and also rescued about 10 pets. The blaze originated in a third-floor apartment, though the exact cause has not been determined. The floors below the apartment of origin sustained heavy smoke and water damage. No tenants were injured, but one firefighter did sustain minor injuries.

  • The fire department received the call about the fire at 11:22 a.m. on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
  • Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze within about 70 minutes.

The players

Gabriel Nadelson

A tenant who lived on the third floor and had to evacuate his apartment during the fire.

Justin Elicker

The mayor of New Haven, who spoke with several of the building's tenants at the scene of the fire.

Daniel Coughlin

The New Haven Fire Department's chief of operations, who provided details about the fire response and rescue efforts.

Mandy Management

The New Haven-based real estate agency that owns the apartment building and is providing hotel stays for displaced tenants.

Shannon Cully

A tenant who shared a unit next to where the fire started, and has already lined up a new apartment for April.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I feel like I'm living in a fever dream, like I'm part of a show I don't want to be a part of.”

— Gabriel Nadelson (nhregister.com)

“These things are hugely disruptive to people's lives. There was a lot of an element of shock at the moment when you're in the apartment and you just have to clear out immediately.”

— Justin Elicker, Mayor of New Haven (nhregister.com)

“It was all kind of happening so fast, so some of my memories were hazy, but I remember a lot of flames coming out of the third-story windows and windows started breaking because of the fire.”

— Julian Brooks, Tenant (nhregister.com)

What’s next

Officials say there is no timeline yet on when the condemned apartment building will be repaired and allowed to be reoccupied. In the meantime, the building's owner, Mandy Management, is working to find new housing units for the displaced tenants.

The takeaway

The Chapel Street apartment fire has left dozens of low-income residents suddenly without a home, highlighting the challenges tenants can face when natural disasters or emergencies force them from their residences. The incident underscores the importance of having strong community support systems in place to assist displaced residents in finding new housing and getting back on their feet.