Volunteer firefighters from Sandy Hook, Newtown Hook & Ladder, Botsford, Hawleyville, and Dodgingtown responded on the night of Wednesday, January 10, to a house fire at 27 Charter Ridge Drive in Sandy Hook, fighting the third house fire in town that had occurred during a four-day period.

Deputy Fire Marshal Steve Murphy said there were no injuries in the accidental blaze at the large home located near the intersection of Charter Ridge Drive and Canterbury Lane.

Firefighters received a call for help at 6:57 pm from the Marmolejos residence, where a father and daughter were home at the time of the incident. Two other family members were not present at the time.

Mr Murphy said that due to the smell of smoke, the homeowner discovered a fire in the basement, after which he unsuccessfully attempted to put it out with a fire extinguisher. Sandy Hook volunteer firefighters then arrived and used firehoses to put out the fire, he said.

Fire and smoke extended upward through ductwork in the walls on the first story, the second story, and the attic, Mr Murphy said. Damage is estimated at approximately $100,000 in the house, which is insured, he said.

The building is nonhabitable, he added. The fire caused some structural damage to the building, which was constructed in 1998.

Mr Murphy said the fire may be electrical in origin. He planned to return to the scene January 11 to further investigate the incident at the Colonial-style house.

Roadways near the scene were closed to through-traffic for a time.

Sandy Hook Fire Chief Bill Halstead, who was incident commander, said that approximately 50 volunteer firefighters responded to the scene. They used about 7,500 gallons of water to extinguish the blaze. Southbury, Stevenson, and Stepney volunteer firefighters provided mutual aid to local volunteers.

Of the firefighting effort, Chief Halstead said, "Everybody did fine...did an excellent job."

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Volunteers from all five Newtown fire companies and the town's ambulance corps converged on a smoky basement fire that was reported just before 7 pm on the evening of January 10, at 27 Charter Ridge Drive. There were no reported injuries and according to Fire Marshal Richard Frampton, the fire was brought under control within a few minutes after crews arrived. Heavy smoke conditions lingered as a group of firefighters pictured here prepared to enter the main floor of the dwelling.   

-Bee Photo, Voket

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Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue and Botsford firefighters congregate at the doorway of 27 Charter Ridge Drive, as smoke billows out Wednesday evening.

-Bee Photo, Voket

[naviga:img class="aligncenter wp-image-300717" src="https://newtownbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/JV_Charter-Ridge-fire-01-10-18-04-WATERMARKED.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="575" /]

Firefighters used a nearby suppression tank to pump water to the firefighters on the hose lines. 

 -Bee Photo, Voket

[naviga:img class="aligncenter wp-image-300718" src="https://newtownbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/JV_Charter-Ridge-fire-01-10-18-02-WATERMARKED.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="450" /]Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief Anthony Capozziello manned the pump panel on his company's quint at the fire scene Wednesday evening.

-Bee Photo, Voket

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A Botsford firefighter and an unidentified figure approach the fire scene Wednesday night. Approximately 50 firefighters responded to the fire, according to Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Chief Bill Halstead.

-Bee Photo, Voket