Crime & Safety

Woman, Children Escape Fire Uninjured

Firefighters extinguish attic fire Saturday morning on Naugatuck's west side.

A woman and four children escaped unharmed after fire broke out in the attic of a single-family home Saturday morning at 208 Millville Ave. in Naugatuck. 

Jessica Martin was in the house with her three children (ages 16, 12 and 2) and another 12-year-old boy when she smelled smoke and got all of the children out of the house safely, said her mother, Leslie Mazur.

The Naugatuck Fire Department received a 911 call at 9:57 a.m; firefighters arrived at the house at 10:01 a.m., according to dispatch reports. 

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“There was smoke pouring out of the whole attic area,” Fire Capt. Greg Flaherty said. “There was nothing external showing; we couldn’t even see the fire when we went up in the attic” because there was so much smoke.

He said the Naugatuck Police Department was already on scene when firefighters arrived and had made contact with the homeowners.

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Firefighters had to cut into the roof to ventilate the house, which sustained heavy smoke and water damage.

Jessica Martin’s husband, George Martin, is a construction worker who was working in Washington, Conn., when the incident occurred. He rushed home to be with his family.

The Martins are well-known in their neighborhood for their extravagant Halloween haunted houses. Hundreds of local children and their families attend the annual event on Halloween night.

The Martins will stay with family nearby while their roof is being repaired. They were shaken up as neighbors consoled them nearby and simply said they were glad everybody got out unharmed.

Flaherty said firefighters removed an iguana from the home and that two cats are believed to have escaped unharmed.

Fire Marshal Bob Weaver was on scene Saturday morning investigating the cause. Early indications are that it is not suspicious.


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