Kitchen fire destroys South Windham home
Jan. 28—WINDHAM — A fire that destroyed a multi-story home in South Windham Thursday night displaced a family of four, including three children and one adult, but no one was injured.
Windham Fire Marshal/ Emergency Management Director Michael Licata said the call for the fire, which was at 337 South Windham Road, came in at 8: 08 p. m.
Like the fire at Ivy Gardens apartments in Willimantic on Tuesday, Licata said the South Windham fire was also caused by unattended cooking in the kitchen.
He said the fire originated in the kitchen on the first floor.
" Most of the damage is contained to the kitchen/ dining room on the first floor, bedroom on the second floor and to the attic above," Licata said.
He said there is also water damage in other parts of the house.
South Windham Fire Department Chief Jan Mott could not be reached for comment this morning.
Several mutual aid departments responded to assist South Windham firefighters, including those from North Windham, Windham Center, Willimantic, Lebanon, Franklin, Baltic, Columbia and Scotland.
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Kitchen fire destroys South Windham home
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Given how common cooking fires are in town, Licata said he plans to " expedite" a meeting he wants to hold with managers of apartment complexes in town about cooking fires.
Licata said the people weren't home at the time of the fire Thursday and emphasized the importance of double- checking that the stove is off before leaving the house.
He said it is common for such situations to occur and said people lose a significant amount of property in these fires.
Another bad cooking fire occurred on Boston Post Road at the end of last year, during which a family was displaced.
Licata said the Boston Post Road fire was also caused by unattended cooking.
" It's been way too crazy," he said.
Like the fire Tuesday, the blaze Thursday caused significant damage, displacing residents.
According to the American Red Cross, those affected will work with Red Cross case workers on a long- term recovery plan.
In a press release issued by the Red Cross this morning, the Red Cross workers provided the fire victims with a recovery envelope with helpful information for families recovering from a fire, including clean- up tips, notification of important contacts and dealing with damaged items.
The Red Cross was also providing the family with comfort kits containing personal- care items, such as toothbrushes, deodorant, shaving supplies and other items.
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