SOUTHWICK – A fire at 15 Sunnyside Road resulted in a total loss of a two-car garage, but little damage to the home.
Southwick Fire Chief Richard Anderson said a neighbor called 911 Sunday afternoon and when Southwick Fire Department arrived, the garage was fully engulfed.
“We were able to contain it to the garage, however, we had to cut a hole in the kitchen ceiling to access the attic,” said Anderson.
The blaze crept into the attic of the one-story house and firefighters worked quickly to keep it from spreading.
“It’s a big roof structure and it’s all open,” Anderson said.
The first firefighters to arrive had to push through the home.
“They had to force entry into the residence through the front door so they could put themselves in front of the advancing inferno, and with their hoseline, push the fire back into the garage,” said Anderson. “Their actions kept the fire from consuming the home.”
In addition to the 25 members of the Southwick Fire Department that responded, mutual aid was given by Suffield, Granby, East Granby, Granville and Russell.
Anderson said the firefighters worked as a team to contain the fire.
“There were six departments there working as one department,” he said. “Everybody was doing their job.”
Anderson said Sunday night that the state fire marshal was on scene working with the Southwick arson team to determine a cause. Anderson said the heat did play a role in the firefighters’ approach.
“Heat was a factor during the fire attack,” he said. “It was humid, and in full gear, it was very hot. We had to keep the firefighters hydrated.”
The house was recently purchased and Anderson said fortunately, the homeowners were not home when the fire broke out.
