Electrical Fire Damages Nunnawauk Road Home

By Andrew Gorosko

Late on Sunday, January 25, firefighters responded to a house fire caused by an electrical failure at 16 Nunnawauk Road, which resulted in moderate fire damage and heavy smoke damage to the residence, estimated at $35,000 or more in repair costs.

Firefighters learned of the fire at 10:28 pm, after which a total of about 45 Newtown Hook and Ladder, Sandy Hook, and Botsford firefighters went to the property, which is across Nunnawauk Road from Nunnawauk Meadows Community Center. There were no injuries.

The 16 Nunnawauk Road property is the residence of Wayne Perrotti, his wife, and their two adolescent daughters.

All four family members were home when the fire was discovered, said Deputy Fire Marshal Rich Frampton.  As the family was preparing to retire for the night, a smoke condition was noticed inside the building, with smoke rising into the kitchen, after which firefighters were alerted. Smoke detectors later sounded.

Electrical wiring, which shorted out amid the floor joists in a tight crawlspace beneath the floor of the single-story, three-bedroom, ranch-style house, was apparently the cause of the accidental fire, Mr Frampton said. The property is insured for damage.

Work crews were at the house this week repairing damage in order to make the residence rehabitable. Extensive cleaning, carpentry and electrical work is needed. The Perrotti family was staying elsewhere, according to fire officials.

The fire caused smoke damage throughout the structure, as well as some fire damage. Firefighters had to open up the floor in the dining room to get to the fire, which was burning in the confined space beneath the residence, said Corey Robinson, Newtown Hook and Ladder’s first assistant fire chief, who served as the incident commander.

The location of the fire made it quite difficult to get to the blaze, Mr Robinson said. Firefighters used compressed air supplies to breathe while battling the fire, which generated heavy brown smoke.

Firefighters used about 400 gallons of water in putting out the fire, he said. Firefighters drove nine fire trucks to the incident, resulting in a section of Nunnawauk Road being closed to traffic.

Frigid conditions late Sunday night eventually resulted in water-charged fire hoses freezing up, causing extended fire cleanup duties at the scene, Mr Robinson said. Firefighters spent about four hours at the property.