Lightning Blamed For Sandy Hook Fire

By Andrew Gorosko

A lightning bolt, which struck and shattered a large tree, apparently discharged voltage through the tree’s roots into a nearby, unoccupied Sandy Hook home, where it ignited a fire that caused more than $60,000 in property damage early on the morning of March 26.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company Chief Bill Halstead said March 27 firefighters received an automatic fire/burglar alarm at 12:49 am March 26, just as the lightning strike energized the interior of the single-family house at 27 Russett Road, near Lower Paugussett State Forest.

On arriving at the scene about eight minutes later, firefighters spotted many tree fragments, the size of kindling wood, scattered across the property and atop the two-story house. More ominously, firemen saw two vehicles parked in the driveway, leading them to suspect that people were inside the building, Chief Halstead said.

Through a light rain, firefighters spotted an orange glow through the picture window of the house’s family room, which is located atop an attached two-car garage about 250 feet from the street.

The first wave of firemen stretched a fire hose to the building and went inside searching for possible victims. No one was found. It was later learned that the residents of the home, Anthony and Elizabeth Fabrizio, were out of the area that night, Chief Halstead said. The home is insured, the chief said.

To aid them at the fire, Sandy Hook firefighters called in crews from Newtown Hook and Ladder and Botsford, bringing to 40 the number of firefighters at the scene, Chief Halstead said. Southbury volunteer firemen went to the main Sandy Hook fire station to provide backup fire coverage.

It took a matter of minutes to get the fire under control. It was burning in a corner of the family room. The blaze produced heavy gray smoke. The incident caused fire, heat, smoke, and water damage.

Although there was a vehicle in the garage below the family room, it did not catch fire.

Firefighters used Hook and Ladder’s thermal imaging camera to locate fires hidden in the walls of the family room.

The blaze did not cause any structural damage to the building, which can be cleaned up and repaired for occupancy, Chief Halstead said. He estimated damage at $60,000 to $65,000.

Chief Halstead said the lighting strike caused some of the most extensive lightning damage he has ever seen.

The lightning bolt struck a broadleaf tree which stood about 20 feet behind the house. The force of the strike blew a hole in the base of the tree. The upper section of the tree exploded, sending wood fragments flying as far as 200 feet. The wood fragment projectiles damaged the rear of the house. The strike created a linear mound on the ground between the tree and the house, where the lightning traveled underground via the tree roots toward the house. Firefighters found a hole burned in the back of the house, Chief Halstead said.

“It [lightning] just made this tree like kindling wood… I’ve seen a lot of lightning strikes, but this one was unbelievable,” Chief Halstead said.

One firefighter received a minor injury. Firemen spent about three hours at the scene.