Seymour firefighters at a fire on Clifton Street June 1.
A fire that gutted a home on Seymour’s Clifton Street last week began in a bathroom vent fan, according to the fire marshal’s office.
No injuries were reported in the blaze, which has been ruled accidental, Deputy Fire Marshal Timm Willis said Monday.
The fire began about 6:30 p.m. Friday, (June 1) when the family who lived at the home was out shopping.
The family’s four dogs made it out of the house.
The flames spread to a staircase and to the house’s kitchen before being put out by firefighters.
The home also sustained smoke damage and is currently uninhabitable, Willis said. The family is staying with relatives.
About 50 firefighters from both of Seymour’s volunteer fire companies, Oxford, and Beacon Falls responded.
See the post below for images.
Homeowner Peter Washenko Jr. contacted The Valley Indy through Facebook Saturday to express his gratitude to the Seymour firefighters and police who responded to the fire.
“In light of things, we were truly blessed that due to the quick action of our neighbors to call in the fire, and the amazing work of the SFD and SPD as they saved the lives of our four dogs and prevented the fire from completely destroying the home,” he said. “The amount of support and kindness and bravery from all the first responders and neighbors was absolutely incredible.”
Willis said it’s unclear specifically how the fire began, but “it definitely started at the fan.”
He advised not to leave bathroom vent fans on if leaving the house. Willis said the blaze was the second recent fire in Seymour the started in a vent fan.
“We have direct contact with fire investigators from insurance companies,” Willis said. “All the time we hear from them how often they respond to fan fires.”
McDonald’s
Seymour firefighters were also called Monday (June 4) morning to deal with a fryer fire at the McDonald’s on Route 67.
The fire was reported about 8:30 a.m., Willis said.
Oil in a fryolator overheated, causing a flareup.
There were no injuries.
The fire didn’t cause much damage, but Willis said the restaurant would probably be closed for most of Monday to clean up fire extinguisher residue.
Garage Fire
The night before the Clifton Avenue fire, Seymour firefighters were called to put out a small fire in a detached garage at 55 Garden St.
There were no injuries reported.
That fire was reported about 10:40 p.m. Thursday (May 31), Willis said.
Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire, which didn’t cause major damage.
The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation, Willis said.
