Family displaced, pets killed and firefighter injured in North Stonington fire

Nov. 28--37

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North Stonington -- The fire that tore through 8 Tom Wheeler Road on Wednesday night resulted in a family of six being displaced, the deaths of a dog and two cats, and a firefighter being treated on scene for injuries related to heat exhaustion, North Stonington Volunteer Fire Company Chief Charles Steinhart said Thursday afternoon.

The company had posted on Facebook Wednesday night that it was called to Tom Wheeler Road at 9:24 p.m. on Wednesday for smoke in the home, and a responding firefighter reported an active fire. Town and state fire marshals are investigating.

Steinhart said the fire started in the basement of the single-family home and worked its way up. He said it took about 30 minutes to get the fire under control and that firefighters were on scene until about 11:45 p.m. dealing with hot spots.

The house has "significant damage," Steinhart said, noting it's up to the insurance company to determine if the structure is inhabitable again or if it's a total loss. He said he did not yet know the cause of the fire.

The American Red Cross said in a news release Thursday morning that it is helping one family -- three adults and three children -- following the fire.

The Red Cross said its responders included Jane Lionelli, Frank Lionelli, James Hendricks and Eldon Griffiths. The organization is providing kits with items such as toothbrushes, deodorant and "other items a resident might need when suddenly displaced from their home by a fire," the release said.

Those affected will connect with caseworkers to work on a longer-term recovery plan, the Red Cross said.

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