Fire engulfed a two-story, single family home on Devonwood Drive Friday morning, Nov. 18, leaving four people displaced and causing significant structural damage to the house.
First responders arrived on the scene at approximately 10:35 a.m. after a call was placed by a resident who discovered an upstairs bedroom caught fire.
On Nov. 18, Fire Chief Jack Casner said the source of the blaze was still undetermined, but added the department ruled out arson and described the incident as “certainly not suspicious.”
Casner said the second floor and roof of the four-bedroom home were severely damaged. Occupants will be unable to return to the house until the anticipated reconstruction process takes place, he said.
“There was so much damage to the bedroom where it started that they’re reconstructing the scene as we speak,” Casner said. “There’s construction that’s going to have to take place before [residents] can reoccupy the home”
No serious injuries were reported. Only the caller who contacted the department was on site when firefighters arrived.
Casner said Cheshire received assistance from the Southington Fire Department, which arrived as part of an existing mutual aid policy between the towns.
“Oftentimes during the day, combination and volunteer departments have a hard time getting staffing, so we call for assistance from another agency, just in case,” Casner said. “It's like an insurance policy.”
Casner was unsure when fire marshals will obtain enough evidence draw a definitive conclusion as to the cause of the fire.
The fire marshal was not available for comment.