State troopers are credited with saving a middle-aged New Britain man from a burning house after a fire broke out while he was sleeping, but two family pets didn't survive the blaze.
Crews responded to a single family home at 20 Wilson Street around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday after two state troopers noticed flames and called to report a fire.
“There was someone sleeping on the second floor," Eddie Irizarry, New Britain fire inspector, said. "A trooper noticed the fire, went inside, banged on the door, was able to pull that person out of the building.”
Two family pets, a dog and cat, were killed in the fire.
A fire that likely started on the porch quickly spread to the kitchen, sending smoke and flames throughout the first and second floors, fire officials said.
While firefighters were able to get the fire under control fairly quickly, hot spots rekindled about two hours later.
The home has been deemed a total loss.
"There is significant fire damage throughout the first floor, and high heat and smoke damage throughout the second floor as well," Irizarry said.
Irizarry said the man rescued from the fire spoke with investigators and that he appeared to be alright.
Jay Golab lives down the street and said flashing lights and sirens in front of 20 Wilson Street woke him up. He saw flames running up the side of the house.
“Totaled, totaled. I mean there was smoke everywhere," Golab said. "You just couldn’t fathom it being right across the street from your home.”
He said the man lives there with his wife and 10-year-old son. No one else was inside at the time.
An arson dog was on scene and investigators spent the morning collecting small pieces of evidence. Fire officials said they are using process of elimination to determine how this fire started. They are testing some debris for the presence of excellerents, which will determine whether the fire was intentionally set.
Investigators had cleared the scene by 8:40 a.m.
Police are conducting interviews with unknown parties.
Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com