$4M Weston, CT, Mansion Destroyed after Turkey Fryer in Garage Catches Fire

Dec. 2, 2024

The fire quickly spread from the garage into the 10,000-square-foot house, Weston Fire Chief John Pokorny said.

A turkey fryer being used in a garage sparked a blaze that quickly spread to a 10,000-square-foot Weston mansion on Thanksgiving.

Firefighters were responding to an automatic alarm when a person called 9-1-1 to report a garage fire. Crews encountered heavy fire showing.

“It accelerated really rapidly," Weston Fire Chief John Pokorny, told CT Insider.

The heat from the flames even melted plastic on some of the cars parked in the driveway.

Dangerous conditions and structural collapse made putting out the fire difficult. The water supply also stopped for several minutes after a vehicle drove over the supply hose.

Firefighters remained at the scene for more than 16 hours.

Despite the intensity of the conflagration, the approximately 25 people who were celebrating Thanksgiving in he home escaped safely and no injuries were reported, Pokorny, who also serves as fire marshal.

About the Author

Susan Nicol | News Editor

Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.