House Fire Claims One Victim

WESTBROOK - An early morning fire ripped through a single-family home Saturday, Feb. 10, killing one person.

John Howard, 66, was found dead inside his home at 553 Toby Hill Road by firefighters after suppressing the flames. Westbrook Deputy Fire Marshal Tony Palermo said the fire started at 5:45 a.m. and when the Westbrook Fire Department got on the scene, the house was already engulfed by flames.

After firefighters extinguished the flames, they entered the remains of the house and found the body of a deceased person, said Connecticut State Police Commanding Officer Lt. J. Paul Vance.

Westbrook Fire Marshal George Rehberg requested that state police detectives from the Office of the State Fire Marshal and State Police Major Crime Detectives assist in the investigation.

The Office of the Chief State's Medical Examiner conducted a post-mortem examination of the deceased, who was identified as Howard. Howard had owned the house located on a 2.32-acre parcel since September 1996.

Rehberg said while autopsy results conclude it was not a suspicious death, it is not known whether Howard died shortly before the fire or as a result of the fire.

The building experienced a "total loss" and is expected to be demolished next week, Rehberg said.

The cause of the fire has not been determined and the investigation is ongoing.