Family Safely Evacuates New Canaan Home During Fire After Recent Home Safety Evaluation: FD

NEW CANAAN, CT — A New Canaan family was able to safely evacuate their home during a house fire last week after receiving a home safety evaluation from the town fire marshal earlier this year, according to fire officials.

In a news release, Fire Chief Albe Bassett said crews were called to a home in town Friday morning after receiving a report of smoke in the basement.

According to Bassett, a family safely evacuated the home and gathered in a predetermined meeting place on their property, then called 911 to report the incident.

Crews discovered a switch for a pump at the home had shorted out, causing light smoke which was found by the homeowner, Bassett said.

"Although the family had had an emergency situation emerge at their home, there are many positives to be found in this incident," Bassett said in a news release.

Bassett noted the family had asked the New Canaan Fire Marshal to conduct a home safety evaluation at their home earlier this year.

According to Bassett, these safety evaluations are conducted at no cost to the homeowner and are offered to any town resident upon request.

"Although there was no way to identify in advance that the switch would fail, the family was well educated in how to conduct themselves in a fire emergency situation," Bassett said.

The family took "crucial steps" to mitigate the incident, including closing the door to the area where the smoke was found, evacuating the home, gathering at a designated meeting place and calling 911, Bassett said.

The family also created an account in the town's Community Connect app, Bassett said.

"By answering some simple questions in Community Connect," Bassett said, "they were able to alert responding firefighters in advance where the family's meeting place was and that they have a dog who would need to be accounted for should an incident take place when the family was not home."

Complementary residential home inspections can be scheduled in New Canaan by emailing the fire marshal's office at donna.hutter@newcanaanct.gov or calling 203-594-3030, according to Bassett.

"Unfortunately, not every event can be prevented," Bassett said. "The lesson learned in this incident, however, is that with proper fire safety education and advanced preparation through an app like Community Connect, our community can limit both injury and property loss."