Two Survive Late-Night Fire Across From Down the Hatch

Brookfield firefighters responded to 289 Candlewood Lake Road at 11:30 p.m. on Friday night, August 20, to reports of a blaze at the home, across the street from Down the Hatch.

Resident Bob Usaty, who rents the space, was sound asleep when he woke to his dog Fury's barking, he said on Saturday. As soon as he got out of bed, he could see the flames spreading and quickly escaped, unharmed.

Another man, who gave his name as Sean, was in the shower at the time, but could hear a "buzzing noise" coming from the light bulb and said that it was shining exceptionally bright. "All of the sudden, there was fire everywhere," he said Saturday, suggesting it was an electrical fire. He escaped the fire along with Usaty and Fury.

Employees at Down the Hatch working Friday night said they were only alerted to the burn when friends coming up to the docks from New Fairfield began honking their boat horns and warning about a fire, sometime between 11:35 p.m. and midnight.

More than half of the inside of the home was destroyed, according to Usaty, who will be staying with his parents in New Milford for the time being. 

Usaty said he's "seen better days," but is physically healthy, as is Fury, who spent the night "hanging out with the firefighters."

The official cause of the burn is still unknown, pending an investigation by the Fire Marshal.