5 Pets, 3 Kids Survive Haddam House Fire

HADDAM, CT - Fire officials said three children and five pets survived a house fire Monday morning on Country Walk in Higganum.

Firefighters from the Haddam Volunteer Fire Company and six mutual aid companies were dispatched to the two-story home at 10:30 a.m., who encountered flames coming from the home’s front porch and first-floor roof upon arrival.

The homeowner and her three children had already exited the house, according to a release. Firefighters were on scene for about three and a half hours.

Officials believe a heater being too close to combustible material to be the cause of the fire, which started on the front porch and rapidly spread to the home’s attic. Firefighters cut roof vents, removed knee-walls on the second floor and drafted water from an underground tank and pond to contain the blaze.

Firefighters rescued two cats from the home’s basement and two pet rabbits from the home, while another rabbit named November escaped his cage during the fire. November, who was housed on the front porch, was rescued and evaluated on the scene.

Fire officials said mutual aid was provided by Middletown’s South District, Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company, Chester Hose Company, Durham Volunteer Fire Department, Haddam Neck Volunteer Fire Department and East Haddam Fire Department. Deep River Fire Department provided station coverage.

Visit the department's Facebook page for more information.

Image courtesy Haddam Volunteer Fire Company.