Fire Destroys Sandy Hook

Garage And Contents

By Andrew Gorosko

At 12:08 am Wednesday, local firefighters were alerted to a detached garage discovered to be afire at 21 Philo Curtis in Sandy Hook, near that road’s overpass above Interstate 84.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company Chief Bill Halstead said that the 600-square-foot  concrete-block one-bay structure located about 20 feet behind the Hensel residence was fully involved in flames when firefighters arrived on the scene.

Chief Halstead said that a passerby reported the fire. The fire did not damage the house, nor did it injure the three people inside the house at the time of the blaze, the fire chief said. Two firefighters received minor injuries in the course of the incident, he said.

Chief Halstead said investigators have not been able to determine what caused the fire, but it does not appear to be suspicious in origin. The garage had electric service.

Besides heavily destroying the garage, the blaze destroyed its many contents, including three all-terrain vehicles, two pressure washers, one air compressor, and several toolboxes with tools, Chief Halstead said.

Also, a pickup truck parked near the garage was damaged by the fire, as was a nearby garden shed and a lawn tractor within it, he said. The fire also damaged a nearby motorcycle, a boat, and a shelter.

The fire chief said he would confer with the property owner’s insurance firm in seeking to learn the monetary extent of damage caused by the fire. The fire chief also is the fire marshal.

Sandy Hook, Newtown Hook & Ladder, Botsford, Hawleyville, and Dodgingtown firefighters responded to the fire call. About 45 firefighters mobilized.

The volunteers used about 12,000 gallons of water to extinguish the blaze. Firefighters ferried water carried in tankers to the scene from a fire hydrant positioned near the intersection of Philo Curtis Road and Pearl Street, which is about 1,500 feet away.

Chief Halstead said the 50-year-old garage will need to be demolished due to the heavy damage it received in the fire. Firefighters remained at the scene for about 90 minutes.