Arson Suspected in Fire at Vacant Mansion in Newtown

The fire that caused heavy damage to a vacant house in Newtown early Wednesday morning has been consider suspicious and the fire marshal said they suspect arson.

Firefighters responded to 44 Castle Hill Road after someone reported a bonfire or brush fire around 1:50 a.m., according to Jason Rivera, assistant chief of Newtown Hook & Ladder.

When firefighters arrived, they determined it was a structure fire and found fire coming out of every window on both floors.

“It was difficult because there was such a heavy volume of fire on both floors and out every window, like I said,” Rivera said. “There’s limited water supplies in this area. So once we established the water supply, it went alright.

Rivera said the building was constructed in the early 1900s.

It has been vacant for several years and there is no electricity in the property. 

“We didn’t see anyone. It’s boarded up on the first floor, so there’s really not easy access into the building,” he said.

All five fire departments from Newtown responded, as did several others to cover the station.

The Newtown fire marshal and state fire marshal are investigating.

An excavator is at the scene, tearing down any unstable parts of the building.

Neighbors said community members tried to raise the funds to buy it when the Archdiocease of Bridgeport tried to sell the property to a developer and a Newtown family bought it to kept it true to its historic roots.

“We’re very sad that the mansion has burned down and it was a part of Newtown,” Julie Vandercroff, of Newtown, said. 

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