BETHEL — Investigators have determined that a fire earlier this month, which displaced a family, was caused by a malfunctioning extension cord.
The cord that was being used in the family’s kitchen had become overloaded after extended use, Bethel Fire Chief Paul Feeney said Tuesday.
Extension cords are recommended for temporary use and can break down rapidly if they are being used continuously, which raises the risk of electrical shock and fires, according to the nonprofit Electrical Safety Foundation International.
The fire broke out around 10 p.m. on July 13. Homeowner Fayette Severance, who lived in the house on River Street Extension with his wife and twin children, was the only person home at the time.
Severance exited the house with his family dog, Oso, and flagged someone down to call for help.
The Bethel Fire Department and several other responding agencies got the fire under control by 11:30 p.m., but the house remains uninhabitable due to smoke and fire damage. A family cat is believed to have perished in the blaze.
A GoFundMe campaign launched to help the family recover and rebuild from the fire had raised just under $5,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.
