Fairfield University Student Douses Campus Townhouse Blaze: Fire Dept.

FAIRFIELD, CT — A Fairfield University student climbed up on the roof of a neighboring campus townhouse Sunday night to extinguish a fire, according to Fairfield fire officials.

No injuries were reported in the incident, which is believed to have been started by an unattended lit candle in a bedroom.

"Students located in the neighboring unit jumped into action upon hearing the smoke alarms," fire officials wrote on Facebook. "Utilizing a large bucket of water, one student climbed onto a rooftop and started throwing water at the base of the fire through an open window. The quick actions of this student clearly limited the growth and spread of this fire."

News 12 Connecticut reported the student's name is Thomas McDuff, a senior, and he used a "big cup from his yard pong game" to douse the flames.

Firefighters had been called to the scene by a female student reporting a fire inside her townhouse, but by the time they arrived, the fire had been extinguished.

"While investigating, Assistant Chief Phil Higgins found an unattended candle had caught nearby combustibles on fire," fire officials wrote. "The occupant stated that she had left her room for a few minutes and was alerted of the fire by smoke alarms sounding. She reported that visible fire was seen when she made her way back to her room."

According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than one-third of home candle fires started in the bedroom, officials said, adding that October is Fairfield’s Fire Prevention Month.

"Candles may be pretty to look at, but they are a cause of home fires—and home fire deaths," officials wrote. "A candle is an open flame that can ignite materials that can burn. The biggest learning lesson from tonight’s fire is 'never leave a candle unattended and make sure there’s nothing combustible in close proximity.'"