A fire at a home in North Haven on Monday that killed a man and a child was caused by smoking, fire officials said.
The blaze, which broke out shortly before 12:30 a.m. at a home on George Street, took the lives of 72-year-old John Morris and 8-year-old Aurelian Kamp, according to the North Haven Fire Department.
A spokesperson for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said the causes for both deaths remain pending “further studies” and “further investigation.”
Fire officials said Tuesday that investigators determined the blaze, which started in a first-floor den, was believed to have a “smoking-related” cause that was accidental. The investigation was conducted by the Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit, the North Haven Fire Department and the North Haven Police Department.
Morris and Aurelian were expected to be remembered at a vigil on Tuesday evening at St. Barnabas Church, located at 44 Washington Ave., as the community still reels from the tragedy.
“Our firefighters did everything possible under extremely challenging conditions,” North Haven Fire Chief Paul Januszewski said in a statement.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder of how quickly fires can spread and the need to close doors within your home to limit fire spread,” Januszewski said. “Don’t assume somebody else has called 911, place the call for help right away. Most importantly, make sure every home has working smoke alarms on every level, within every bedroom and have an escape plan that everyone in the household practices regularly.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Morris and Kamp families during this heartbreaking time,” North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda said in a joint statement issued by the fire department. “The Town of North Haven stands together in grief and gratitude for the dedication of our first responders. We encourage everyone to take a moment to review their own fire safety practices to help prevent future tragedies.”
According to fire officials, crews received two 911 calls when the fire broke out. The first came from a neighbor who reported that there may be people still inside. A second caller said a child was trapped on the upper floor, fire officials said.
Fire crews were at the scene within minutes and found heavy fire on the first and second floors, fire officials said. They confirmed Aurelian was trapped in a second floor bedroom and entered the home.
Firefighters found Morris dead in a bedroom and Aurelian under a bed, officials said. Aurelian was rescued by crews who used a ladder to escape the home. He was then brought to Yale New Haven Hospital and pronounced dead at 1:30 a.m., according to fire officials.
Four others in the home made it out, including an elderly woman and two more children. The fourth person who made it out, a woman, was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital. The elderly woman and the children were not injured, according to officials.
The displaced family is being assisted by the American Red Cross.
Fire crews received mutual aid from the Hamden Fire Department. One firefighter suffered a minor injury.