A middle-aged man was injured early Monday morning at a Bungalow Terrace residence in the Riverside section of Sandy Hook, after he came into contact with a burning chair that had accidentally ignited due to its proximity to a fire in a fireplace, fire officials said.A gofundme campaign has been launched by one of Mr Sarnik's neighbors. See related story here. 

Paul Sarnik, 52, a tenant who was living at a small house at 5 Bungalow Terrace, was transported by ambulance to the Bridgeport Hospital burn unit for treatment of hand burns. Mr Sarnik was scheduled to be discharged from the hospital Monday afternoon, according to Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company Chief Bill Halstead.

Firefighters learned of the fire at about 2:40 am. Bungalow Terrace is a densely built side street that extends from Riverside Road.

The accidental blaze extensively damaged the wood-frame structure. Flames were shooting out of the front door when firefighters arrived, Chief Halstead said. About 30 volunteer firefighters went to the burning house. Firefighters from Sandy Hook, Newtown Hook & Ladder, Botsford, Hawleyville, and Dodgingtown responded. Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps also went to the scene.

Deputy Fire Marshal Steve Murphy said that after Mr Sarnik realized that an upholstered wooden chair positioned near the fireplace had ignited, he grabbed the chair in seeking to carry it outdoors. But the chair got jammed in a doorway as Mr Sarnik was carrying it.

The fireplace did not have a protective barrier in front of it, such as a metallic spark screen or glass panels, Mr Murphy said. Apparently, a burning log among the logs piled in the fireplace had shifted position, resulting in a release of embers which ignited the chair, he said.

Mr Sarnik was the only person in the building when the fire occurred, Chief Halstead said. The blaze caused extensive fire and smoke damage, he added. No nearby houses ignited due to the incident.

Although there were frigid conditions when the fire occurred, the weather was not a factor in firefighting, Chief Halstead said. It required about 3,000 gallons of water carried on fire trucks to put out the fire. Firefighters had the blaze under control in about 10 to 15 minutes.

It is unclear if the heavily damaged house would be rehabilitated, he said.