A fire badly damaged a single-family house at 58 Rees Drive Monday.
One person was home when the fire started. Luckily, there were no injuries, said Oxford Fire Chief Scott Pelletier.
The incident began when a vehicle in a garage caught fire at about noon. The fire quickly spread into the home. The precise cause of the initial fire wasn’t immediately available.
The homeowners were at the scene but declined comment. Tax records list the owners as Matthew and Kelly Cunningham.
Firefighters from Oxford, Beacon Falls and Seymour fought the fire for about 45 minutes. They used a combination of water and foam to put out the blaze, because at one point a gasoline tank on the vehicle ruptured. Click the video to see and interview with Pelletier.
The blaze was still smoldering in the garage at 1:20 p.m. Firefighters walked through the single-story home, making certain the fire was out completely.
Heavy burn damage could be seen around the front door frame and front living room window frame.
It is a residential neighborhood of mostly ranch-type homes, not far from Quaker Farms Road where Oxford and Seymour meet. The home is a yellow ranch, with a red brick foundation. A home renovation specialist was already on the scene consulting with the owners.
Pelletier said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The family will have to find other accommodations until repairs can be made, he said.
It was not clear whether they would be staying at a local hotel overnight or making arrangements with family or friends.
