Date: Fri 13-Dec-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

fire-Graves-marshal

Full Text:

Investigation Of House Fire Continues

Fire officials are still investigating the cause of a November 30 fire which

extensively damaged a circa 1760 house at 95 Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook

Center.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company Chief William Halstead said

Wednesday that fire officials are working with an insurance company

investigator in probing the cause of the blaze, which caused an estimated

$250,000 to $300,000 of damage.

"We still don't have a cause," Chief Halstead said. The fire chief and

Building Inspector Robert A. Brinley, Jr, who are both deputy fire marshals,

are investigating the fire.

Initially, the fire appeared to be electrical in origin, but that has proven

not to be the cause, Chief Halstead said.

Fire officials have taken floor samples which are undergoing fire origin

testing, he said. Because the cause of the fire isn't apparent, research on

physical evidence from the scene is continuing, he said.

Fire officials have interviewed the occupants of the house seeking to

determine the possible cause of the blaze, the chief said.

Residents Janet and Robert Graves were able to get out of the house without

injury, according to fire officials. The tenant of a separate apartment at the

house wasn't home at the time of the fire. The blaze isn't considered

suspicious.

The fire heavily damaged the den and a kitchen. The blaze then raced up a

stairwell to the second story. The old house has "balloon-style" construction

and thus lacks firestops, allowing flames to spread rapidly, Chief Halstead

said. The apartment received fire and smoke damage.