This contributed photo shows flames on the front porch of a house in Seymour.
SEYMOUR — The fire marshal said a fire at a two-story house at 4 Laurel Lane Tuesday (April 30) was started by accident.
Seymour Fire Marshal Timothy Willis said the fire was reported at 11:22 a.m. on the front porch.
“The fire was accidental and caused by careless disposal of smoking materials,” Willis said.
More than 50 firefighters from the Seymour Fire Department, with assistance from neighboring fire departments in Ansonia, Beacon Falls and Oxford, responded to the scene, according to Seymour Fire Chief Chris Edwards. Derby fire department crews provided station coverage for Seymour.
Two adults — a mother and her son — were home at the time, but managed to escape unharmed, Edwards said. The family’s three cats may have run away as the fire raged, the chief said.
Great Hill Road was shut down near Davis Road so crews could battle the fire, which Edwards said spread quickly to the first floor, second floor, and back of the house, due to the wind. It took about 25 minutes for firefighters to knock down the fire, Edwards said.
“The whole front side of the house was fully involved when we arrived,” Edwards said.
The house, built in 2003, is a total loss, according to Edwards.
The Connecticut Red Cross was on hand to assist the family.
A video of the incident was posted by FireGroundImages.com on Youtube.
