Report by Paula Antolini, July 7, 2019, 6:47AM EDT
A fire in a home on Country Way in Bethel, CT, displaced a family of four on the evening of July 6th as Bethel and Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Departments and mutual aid from surrounding towns battled the fire for several hours during Saturday night’s storm.
Fire crews arrived at approximately 8:25 p.m. to a report of a structure fire and found the fire was located in the rear of the 2-story home.
Mutual aid was called from Redding, West Redding, Dodgingtown, Georgetown, Germantown, and Beaver Brook fire departments, Danbury’s Wooster Hose, Independent Hose, Phoenix Hose, Water Witch, and Danbury and Brookfield helped cover the stations.
Additional ambulances were eventually called in as fire was coming through the roof. Two ambulances were there and one on standby. Additional tankers from Newtown and Danbury were also called in to help, and Danbury covered the Bethel South Street station. Eversource was called in to shut power to the home. Red Cross was also called to help the displaced two adults and two children. EMS units were on the scene while fire crews continued to battle the blaze.
We will update this story as soon as fire departments release a final report.
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UPDATE July 7, 2019, 7:35AM:
06JULY2019 Late in the day Saturday following a round of thunderstorms, both Bethel and Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Department’s were dispatched to a Country Way road home. Dispatch notified responders of receiving multiple 911 phone calls, and based on that information tankers were requested from Redding and West Redding fire departments.
Arriving on scene within minutes, firefighters were facing an already well advanced fire involving the back of the house and up into the attic. With no hydrants in the area, additional tankers were requested from the Dodgingtown, Georgetown, Germantown, and Beaver Brook fire departments. Working in high temperatures and high humidity, additional manpower from Danbury’s Wooster Hose, Independent Hose, Phoenix Hose, Water Witch, and Brookfield were requested to battle the fire, enabling firefighters to be rotated out often to avoid heat exhaustion.
The family, who weren’t home at the time, are being assisted by the Red Cross. The Bethel Fire Marshal and the State Police Fire Investigation Unit are working to establish the cause of the fire.
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UPDATE July 8, 2019, 3:55PM from Bethel Fire & EMS:
Saturday evening Bethel Fire was alerted to a house fire in our first due response area.
Upon arrival units found fire through the roof of a private dwelling. Interior attack was initiated, but later pulled out due to a heavy fire load.
As this fire was in a non hydrant area, multiple mutual aid units were called to the scene for tankers.
The homeowners were not home at the time of the fire, unfortunately one dog did perish.
The fire is under investigation by the fire marshals office.
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UPDATE July 9, 2019, 6:37PM:
A gofundme.com page has been set up for the Serfilippi family. So far $20, 308 of the $25,000 goal has been reached.
Help for the Serfilippi Family
“On Saturday evening, a devastating fire took from the Serfilippi family their home, possessions, and their beloved dog, Henry. As well known and loved members of their community, an immediate outpouring of people wanting to help has been received.
“Thank you to everyone who have already contributed . Donations will continue to be received care of the Martin family at 38 Starr Lane, Bethel. For those who are unable to drop off, this outlet will help streamline getting them the assistance they need. Every bit helps and is appreciated immensely by the family.”
Click here to donate on the gofundme.com page.
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