In the wake of a basement fire in New Canaan that coated the home’s interior with soot and displaced a local family, fire officials are urging town residents in the event of a fire to ensure, whenever it’s feasible and safe, that oxygen supplies are cut off by closing doors and windows.
Luckily, no residents or pets were hurt in the recent basement incident, Fire Marshal Fred Baker said in a press release. The residents were alerted to the fire by an alarm system.
However, by failing to re-shut the door to the basement upon opening it and being greeted by a rush of smoke and heat, the residents unintentionally “allowed the heat and smoke unhindered travel to the upper floors,” Baker said.
“When the Fire Department arrived they were able to quickly suppress the fire, stopping any further damage,” he said. “However, the smoke and heat had spread throughout the upper floors, coating everything with thick, black soot. Keep in mind, no flames actually left the basement – just heat and smoke. Now the family is displaced while their home is repaired.”
Baker said: “Many of us learned about the ‘fire triangle’ from Jiminy Cricket (I am showing my age). Heat, Fuel and air are required for a fire to burn – take away any one of the sides, the fire goes out.”
For questions regarding this, or any other fire safety topics, please contact the New Canaan Fire Marshal’s Office at 203-594-3030.