Basement Likely Origin of Warner Hill Road Fire

The fast-moving fire that destroyed a house on Warner Hill Road in Fairfield's Southport neighborhood appears to have started in the basement.

Assistant Fire Chief Christopher Tracy said reports from occupants in the home, all of whom escaped without injury, and Fire Marshal William Kessler's investigation at the scene points to the preliminary conclusion that the fire started in the basement of the 323 Warner Hill Road house, which had a gross area of 10,323 square feet and was appraised at $1.5 million. The amount of debris in the basement also indicates that was the area of origin, Tracy said.

Tracy said the home had gas service, but firefighters do not believe, at this early stage in their investigation, that gas was a contributing factor to the fire.

Alan Rissolo, a neighbor at the scene of the 3:15 a.m. fire, spoke of how quickly the fire engulfed the house and that flames were shooting 150 feet into the air when he heard the first fire truck going down his street.

Firefighters said the cause of the fire may be difficult to determine given that the house is a total loss.

The house was owned by Francis and Philippa Poli, who bought it for $1.165 million in February 2000.