Nighttime Blaze Destroys Garage In Sandy Hook

By Andrew Gorosko

Three local fire companies were dispatched early on the morning of Friday, October 27, to Grace Moore Road in Sandy Hook, in response to a raging fire at a detached wood-frame garage that destroyed the structure and its contents, according to fire officials.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company Chief Bill Halstead said firefighters received a call at 12:16 am alerting them that the detached garage was afire next to the Parsons residence at 10 Grace Moore Road. That road is a dead end street extending from Bradley Lane, near Bradley Lane’s intersection with Great Ring Road.

There were no injuries in the incident. The one-bay garage was insured for loss. Sandy Hook, Botsford, and Hook & Ladder firefighters were dispatched. Hook & Ladder firefighters stood by off-scene in the event that they were needed at the blaze, Chief Halstead said.

Chief Halstead estimated the overall damage caused by the fire at approximately $28,000. The garage was completely destroyed, as were its contents. Also, the heat of the blaze damaged vinyl siding on the adjacent Parsons residence, which stands about 30 feet away from the fire scene, he said. The heat caused the siding to melt.

The garage did not contain a vehicle, but was used for storing tools and equipment, the fire chief said. The prefabricated structure was 22 feet deep, 14 feet wide, and nine feet tall. The garage was constructed of plywood panels.

The cause of the fire is unclear, Chief Halstead said, noting that the intensity of the fire destroyed evidence that could be used to determine the origin of the blaze. The garage had electrical service, so a possible electrical cause of the fire cannot be ruled out, he noted. The fire is not suspicious, he said. Chief Halstead is the town fire marshal.

Firefighters were able to safely remove about seven chickens that were living in a horse trailer adjacent to the garage, Chief Halstead said. An eighth chicken may have died in the fire or escaped from the scene.

The call for help came from the adjacent Parsons residence in which there were five people when the fire was reported, the fire chief said.

The garage was totally ablaze when firefighters arrived. Knocking down the flames took about eight minutes. Firefighters used water carried on their trucks to extinguish the blaze. Approximately 35 firefighters went to the scene.