Victim IDs, Cause Of Fatal Fire Released: North Haven FD

NORTH HAVEN, CT — The two people killed in a tragic house fire in North Haven have been identified as 72-year-old John Morris and 8-year-old Aurelian Kamp, officials said in an update Tuesday morning.

The North Haven Communications Center received the first of two 911 calls at 12:28 a.m. Monday, reporting a house fire on George Street. The caller reported a neighboring home on fire with possible occupants inside.

A second 911 call was received at 12:29 a.m., indicating a child was trapped on the upper floor, according to officials.

Fire units were immediately dispatched, arriving “within minutes to find heavy fire involvement on both the first and second floors,” according to a news release from the North Haven Fire Department.

“An extensive fire cause and origin investigation was conducted by the Connecticut State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit, the North Haven Fire Department, and the North Haven Police Department,” officials wrote in the news release. “Investigators determined the fire originated in a first-floor den, with the cause identified as accidental smoking related.”

A vigil in remembrance of the victims will be held Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. at St. Barnabas Church, 44 Washington Avenue, North Haven, according to officials.

“Our firefighters did everything possible under extremely challenging conditions,” North Haven Fire Chief Paul Januszewski said. “This tragedy is a stark reminder of how quickly fires can spread and the need to close doors within your home to limit fire spread. Don’t assume somebody else has called 911, place the call for help right away. Most importantly, make sure every home has working smoke alarms on every level, within every bedroom and have an escape plan that everyone in the household practices regularly.”

North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda extended condolences on behalf of the entire town.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Morris and Kamp families during this heartbreaking time,” Freda said. “The Town of North Haven stands together in grief and gratitude for the dedication of our first responders. We encourage everyone to take a moment to review their own fire safety practices to help prevent future tragedies.”