Elementary school student dies after Middlefield house fire

MIDDLEFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) — A child has died following a house fire Friday morning on Dwight Drive in Middlefield.

Firefighters and state police responded to the home around 1:05 a.m. Middlefield Fire Chief Peter Tyc said there was heavy fire in the front of the house, with reports of someone trapped.

Once crews put out the flames, the fire chief said they made an aggressive interior attack and found the victim on the front porch. They were pronounced dead on scene, Tyc said. One other person and a dog managed to get out of the home without injuries.

“All fires are difficult, without a doubt, loss of life. We are a small community, and everybody knows everybody or has a connection whether our kids went to school together or things like that, so this is an extremely difficult situation,” Tyc said.

In a statement to the school community, the superintendent of Regional School District 13 shared it was one of their elementary school students who had died.

Last night a learner who attends John Lyman Elementary school died in a house fire in the Town of Middlefield. We are withholding the name of the child at this time out of respect for the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this child in this most difficult time.

We will be sending additional counseling staff to John Lyman Elementary School today to support children and adults in the aftermath of this tragedy. We will also be sending additional counselors to support staff at Brewster Elementary School where the child attended school previously.

Please contact your school if you or your child need any support today or in the days ahead.

Doug Schuch, superintendent of Regional School District 13

Investigators are working to determine the cause and origin of the fire. Tyc said it was too early in the investigation to determine if foul play is suspected, but it hasn’t been ruled out either.

A firefighter sustained injuries and was transported to a hospital but was released within hours.

In the video below, Middlefield Fire Chief Peter Tyc updates reporters around 11 a.m. Friday.

Middlefield First Selectman Robert Yamartino said the town is a very tight-knit community. He commended the volunteer fire company and mutual aid that helped.

“This was a terrible tragedy for our town and the family,” Yamartino said. “It’s a small community and everybody knows everybody or knows somebody that’s part of the family.”

Tyc said the home had heavy damage. The fire alarm was working, and he reminded all residents to ensure theirs also worked.

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