Conn. Firefighter Heading Home Spots House Fire
Source Connecticut Post, Bridgeport
April 09--MONROE -- A house on Robin Lane was gutted early Monday morning in a blaze that took firefighters nearly two hours to get under control.
Monroe Fire Department spokesman Kevin Catalano said the fire broke out at about 1 a.m. at 18 Robin Lane. The home's residents escaped uninjured, but the home is at a near total loss and is uninhabitable, Catalano said.
The blaze required more than 40 firefighters from the town's three volunteer fire departments, in addition to tanker trucks from Newtown and Shelton and engine crews from Newtown and Oxford.
Property records show Joseph and Deborah Matthews bought the four-bedroom home in 2007.
Catalano said a Monroe volunteer firefighter driving on East Village Road at about 1:05 a.m. was on his way home from an unrelated power line fire when he saw that the home was engulfed in flames.
A family of five was making its way out of the home when firefigthters responded a short time later, Catalano said. Heavy flames quickly spread through the first and second floors, and the attic as volunteers from the Monroe, Stevenson and Stepney firefighters responded.
Catalano said more than 40 firefighters worked under the direction of Monroe Deputy Fire Chief Josh Krize. Most units were on scene at around 5 a.m., Catalano said.
Residents told firefighters that they were awakened by the sound of shattering glass and soon realized the house was on fire, Catalano said.
Fire Marshal William Davin is investigating the blaze with the help of the State Fire Marshal's office.
No other information was immediately available Monday morning. Stay here and follow http://twitter.com/connpost for updates as the story develops.
Copyright 2012 - Connecticut Post, Bridgeport
