Ambulance Corpsman Injured Nearby—

Accidental Fire Damages Sandy Hook Home

By Andrew Gorosko

Firefighters from several volunteer fire companies responded to extinguish an accidental house fire that caused an estimated $75,000 in damage to a contemporary-style Sandy Hook home on the afternoon of Thursday, January 11.

In an unfortunate turn of events, a Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps member, who was responding to the scene in his personal auto, was involved in an accident near the fire, in which his car collided head-on with a tree.

At 1:14 pm, firefighters received an emergency call alerting them that a house fire was underway at 10 Tanglewood Lane, which is a dead-end street that extends from Berkshire Road (Route 34), near Gray’s Plain Road.

Sandy Hook Fire Chief Bill Halstead said the accidental fire began in a home office at the Pitrone residence. The two-story wood-frame house is insured for damage.

One of the home’s residents, Matthew Corcoran, had been in the home office and had ostensibly put out a cigarette in an ashtray, after which he dumped the ashtray’s contents into a plastic wastebasket, Chief Halstead said. Corcoran, who is in his 20s, then went to another section of the house, after which a smoke alarm sounded, the fire chief said.

At that time, Corcoran was the only person home of the five people who live there, Chief Halstead added.

The fire caused no injuries. A pet cat, however, was overcome by smoke. Firefighters gave the cat oxygen, which revived it, after which it was transported to a veterinarian to be checked, the fire chief said.

The fire gutted the office and resulted in heat damage and water damage to an adjacent laundry room. The blaze caused heavy smoke damage to the entire house.

When firefighters arrived, flames were leaping out of the office’s windows. Firefighters knocked down the flames after about ten minutes of work, the fire chief said. They used the water that is carried on fire trucks to put out the flames. Less than 1,000 gallons of water was needed to extinguish the blaze, he said.

Besides Sandy Hook firefighters, fire personnel from Botsford, Newtown Hook & Ladder, Hawleyville, and Stevenson responded to the scene. Other Hawleyville and Dodgingtown firefighters were placed on standby duty. Southbury firefighters went to Sandy Hook’s main firehouse to provide backup fire coverage.

Approximately 35 firefighters went to the Tanglewood Lane fire.

Vehicular Accident

After learning of the house fire, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps member Roger Connor, 25, of 132 Hattertown Road was responding to the scene in his personal 1999 Chrysler Cirrus sedan.

As a standard procedure, an ambulance crew is dispatched to a structure fire to stand by there in the event that medical aid is needed.

At 1:33 pm, police received a report that there had been a one-car accident at the intersection of Berkshire Road and Tanglewood Lane. That intersection forms a 90-degree angle.

Police said that Connor, who was driving the Chrysler eastward on Berkshire Road while traveling to the fire, attempted to make a right turn onto Tanglewood Lane. The Chrysler, however, began to skid and went off the roadway at the intersection of Berkshire Road and Tanglewood Lane, drove down into a low spot and struck a tree head-on. The auto’s airbags deployed, protecting Connor in the impact.

Fortunately, emergency crews were nearby and were able to quickly aid Connor. The accident occurred about 150 yards from the house fire.

Police said Connor received head and hand injuries in the accident, after which he was transported by the ambulance corps to Danbury Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Police said they issued Connor a written warning for making a restricted turn.