Fireplace Embers Cause Westport House Fire

An alert neighbor on Evergreen Parkway reported visible flames on the roof of the Washington Avenue home, according to Westport Fire Department Assistant Chief William R. Dingee.

Firefighters could see flames coming from the roof of the two-story home when they arrived on scene Sunday morning, Dingee said.

“The occupants had safely exited the structure after being notified of the fire by a neighbor,” Dingee said in a news release. “They reported smelling smoke and checking the interior of the house, but smoke detectors did not activate as the fire and smoke was confined to the roof and unfinished attic areas of the home where there were no detectors."

Firefighters stretched a hose line up the interior stairs to the attic and quickly extinguished the fire, he said. Tarps were placed on items on the second floor to protect them from water runoff. Additional burning roof materials were removed to completely extinguish the fire, according to Dingee.

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The fire was investigated by the Westport Fire Marshal’s office. It was determined that the fire was caused by hot embers from the chimney landing on the wood roof shingles, Dingee said.

The majority of fire damage was to the roof shingles. Minor water and smoke damage occurred on the second floor, Dingee said. A total of 24 firefighters responded to the scene.

The last fire department unit cleared the scene at 11:15 a.m. Dingee said. Four engines, a Rescue vehicle, a shift commander's vehicle as well as a ladder truck from Wilton Fire Department were dispatched to the scene. An engine from the Fairfield Fire Department covered headquarters for any additional calls, he said.