A fire that started in a parked van last Tuesday morning destroyed the van, a small shed, a barn, and part of an antique home on Main Street, but did not injure the homeowners nor any first responders at the scene.

While it was quickly clear where the fire started on May 24, the Office of the Fire Marshal has deemed the cause of the fire itself undetermined.

Fire Marshal Rich Frampton told The Newtown Bee this week that the van was “like a camper van, with a refrigerator, and outlets, and a battery. The van was plugged into an outlet, to keep the stuff inside charged.

“It could have been electrical,” he said June 1. “It’s undetermined, though, because we can’t prove it.”

Firefighters from all five of Newtown’s volunteer fire companies were dispatched to the Lerman residence around 5:20 am last Tuesday morning. Local fire protocol is to dispatch all companies when there is a confirmed structure fire.

Homeowners Laura and Ken Lerman were able to leave their home without injury.

The fire spread to a small nearby shed, and a two-story barn at the western end of the driveway. It further extended to the office of the home, heavily damaging the space above the garage.

It additionally damaged a fence between their home and that of their neighbors to the north.

Hook & Ladder Assistant Chief Joe Miller had command of the scene, which was within Hook & Ladder’s district. Approximately 24 firefighters were at the scene. Others were on standby at their respective stations.

Southbury sent a standby crew to Sandy Hook, Stevenson sent a crew to Botsford, and Bethel sent a crew to Dodgingtown.

Also per structure fire protocol, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps sent a crew for standby. No injuries were reported.

Fire marshals, an Eversource representative, and a rep from JP Maguire also responded to the fire, which closed Main Street between its intersections with Hanover and Church Hill roads for approximately two hours.

Frampton estimates the fire caused “approximately $150,000” in damage.

The Lermans were not displaced by the fire.

In a letter to the editor sent to The Newtown Bee less than 24 hours after the fire, Laura Lerman said that while the bad news was that she and her husband had the fire, “the good news is that the Newtown community did what it always does. Beginning with the calming, professional, terrific five fire companies, Newtown offered protection, help and solace.”

While she and her husband did not need shelter or food, both were offered by friends “and even strangers.” What they did need, she said, and what the community also offered, “was care, concern and compassion.

“One more time, the Newtown community came through,” her letter concluded.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.