Date: Fri 08-Jan-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Pebble-Road-Fire

Full Text:

Pebble Road Home Severely Damaged By Fire

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

Firefighters responded to the fourth local house fire in a five-week period

early on New Year's Day, extinguishing a blaze that extensively damaged a

Pebble Road home, according to Fire Marshal George Lockwood.

Botsford, Newtown Hook and Ladder, Sandy Hook, and Dodgingtown firefighters

went to the 4:50 am call at the Savo residence at 17 Pebble Road where the

fire caused an estimated $110,000 in damage to the building and its contents,

Mr Lockwood said.

Careless smoking caused the fire, according to the fire marshal.

Rosemarie Savo and her son, Frank, were in the house at the time of the fire,

Mr Lockwood said. Mrs Savo and her son, who is in his 20s, were fortunate to

have escaped with relatively minor injuries, based on the circumstances of the

blaze, according to the fire marshal.

Frank Savo was treated for first-degree burns to his shoulder and smoke

inhalation. Mrs Savo was treated for smoke inhalation, Mr Lockwood said. Both

were treated at the scene by the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Frank Savo apparently had been smoking in the lower level of the house and had

fallen asleep, allowing a cigarette to fall and ignite the couch that he was

on. The burning couch burned Mr Savo's shoulder, awakening him. He alerted his

mother about the blaze, and they left the burning house, according to the fire

marshal. Mrs Savo had been asleep in the upper level of the house.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, flames were shooting out of lower

level windows and the front door, Mr Lockwood said. A neighbor had reported

the blaze to firefighters.

"The flames were knocked down quite fast (by firemen)," Mr Lockwood said.

The fire gutted the entire lower level of the building that has a walk-out

basement, he said. The fire caused heavy smoke and heat damage to the upper

level.

Although heavily damaged, the house can be repaired, according to the fire

marshal. The Savos were staying elsewhere after the fire, he said.

Four Fires

Mr Lockwood said it has been many years since there have been so many major

house fires during such a short period. All four fires were caused

accidentally.

Late on Christmas Eve, a fire caused more than $320,000 in damage to the Mehri

residence on Whippoorwill Hill Road. A clothes dryer is thought to be the

cause of the extensive fire. The dryer is being tested.

On December 20, a malfunctioning heater at 25 Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook

caused an estimated $40,000 in damage at the Potter residence. The residents

were away when the fire started.

On November 27, the day after Thanksgiving, a malfunctioning wood stove

extensively damaged a house at 34 Berkshire Road in Sandy Hook, putting

several tenants out of the home.

None of the residents in the December 24, December 20, or November 27 fires

was injured, according to fire officials.