1 taken to hospital after fire at Bethel FD chief’s home

Firefighters quickly contained a fire at a home on Reservoir Street in Bethel, Conn., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020. Firefighters quickly contained a fire at a home on Reservoir Street in Bethel, Conn., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020. Photo: Contributed Photo / Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company Photo: Contributed Photo / Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 1 taken to hospital after fire at Bethel FD chief’s home 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

BETHEL — One person suffered non-life-threatening injuries during a fire at the home of the Bethel Fire Department chief on Saturday morning, fire officials said.

At 7:30 a.m., Bethel and Stony Hill firefighters were dispatched for a reported structure fire on Reservoir Street. Responding units would soon learn it was the home of Fire Chief Scott Murphy.

Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company officials said intial reports indicated fire was in the walls, and the first responding units found heavy fire on the rear porch of Murphy’s home.

“Units quickly knocked down the fire and prevented extension to the rest of the home,” officials said. “Members remained on scene for an extended period of time opening up walls to gain access to affected areas and deep-seated void spaces.”

Officials said one resident was taken to Danbury Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

While Stony Hill and Bethel fire units were on scene, Danbury Fire Department provided mutual aid. Officials said the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company provided station coverage and handled one carbon monoxide-related call.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Bethel fire marshal.

Later Saturday afternoon, Murphy confirmed the fire was at his residence in a Facebook post.

“It was my house this morning that caught fire,” Murphy wrote. “It started in the wall by the chimney. The marshal is investigating so I cannot say exactly what happened.”

He said he has not assessed the total damage done yet but added that “hopefully it’s not as bad as it looks.”

In his post, Murphy thanked the Bethel Fire Department, Bethel EMS, Stony Hill firefighters, Danbury Hospital paramedics, Danbury Fire Department and the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department.

“You guys are all first class and we thank you all for what you did,” Murphy said. “The fire damage was contained to mostly the exterior and minimal to the kitchen, smoke and water damage throughout.”