Fire Severely Damages Orange Firefighter's Home: Officials

ORANGE, CT — The house of a well-known couple in the Orange community sustained severe damage after an undetected fire burned for an undetermined amount of time, said Town of Orange Fire Marshal James Vincent stated in a press release.

On Sunday, Aug. 13, Orange Dispatch Center received a call for the report of the side of a house on fire, Vincent said.

The house is owned by Lisa Kaplan, a decorated 13-year veteran with the fire department, and her husband Paul, Vincent said.

Lisa retired last year after decades of a career as a schoolteacher with the town of Orange Board of Education, and Paul has served and currently serves on town boards for some time, Vincent said.

As the first fire crews arrived, they went to work to knock down the heavy fire, Vincent said.

Fire personnel worked to ensure the fire was extinguished entirely, primarily, and a secondary search for occupants revealed nobody was in residence; they checked the environment inside the home and began an investigation, Vincent said.

Fire inspector Rossi said the area of origin was found to be on the lower level, where the fire burned undetected for an undetermined amount of time, which allowed it to burn through the floor into the upper level of the home and breach a window and begin to burn the outside of the house, Vincent said.

A person passing by the house smelled smoke and saw the fire and immediately called 911, the fire is still under further investigation, but the fire was accidental in nature, Vincent said.

Despite the best efforts, because the fire had plenty of time to burn undetected, there is severe damage to the home and its contents, and unfortunately, the house cannot be occupied, Vincent said.

The Kaplan’s were not home, nor was their dog, Teddy, when the fire occurred, Vincent said.

Vincent said many people have asked what can be done to help the Kaplan’s.

“We are in the process of assisting with recovery and will be doing so for the next few weeks,” Vincent stated. “I am certain there will be a joint effort between the Volunteer Fire Chief and the Superintendent of Schools to help Lisa and Paul in any way they need.”

Derby Fire Department and Woodbridge Fire Department provided mutual aid.