It was just after midnight Monday when neighbors and first responders in North Haven, Connecticut awoke to the roar of flames consuming a two‑story home on George Street. By the time fire crews arrived—within an impressive three‑minute window—they were met with heavy fire erupting across both the first and second floors.
Inside the home, four people managed to escape the blaze—a woman and two school‑aged children, along with another adult female. One woman was transported to hospital with injuries, and a firefighter sustained a minor injury during the rescue effort.
Yet amid the chaos, rescue teams faced the worst of what fire can bring. The victims were identified Tuesday as 72‑year‑old John Morris, and 8‑year‑old Aurelian Kamp, who turned eight this past June. Officials noted that the two were believed to be grandfather and grandson, though that relationship was still being confirmed.
Fire investigators from the Connecticut State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit, the North Haven Fire Department and the North Haven Police Department determined the blaze started accidentally in a first‑floor den, and the cause was linked to smoking materials.
Fire Chief Paul Januszewski described the mode of spread as relentless: once the fire took hold it quickly consumed living space and stairways, trapping those upstairs before rescue teams could gain full access. He emphasized the heroic efforts of his crews under extreme conditions.
In the wake of the tragedy, the town rallied. A memorial vigil was held Tuesday at 6 p.m. at St. Barnabas Church on Washington Avenue, where friends, neighbors and community leaders gathered to remember Aurelian and John and to offer support to their grieving families. A makeshift tribute grew on the lawn of the damaged home: toy trucks, stuffed animals, flowers—reminders of a small boy’s presence and place in the heart of the neighborhood.
Chief Januszewski used the moment as a powerful reminder of how fast fire can move in a home—and how vital the basics of fire safety are. He urged every household to ensure smoke alarms are functioning, to keep bedroom doors closed at night, and to rehearse escape plans. These simple steps, he said, could mean the difference between tragedy and survival.
While investigators continue to finalize their full report, the community of North Haven is left to process its grief. The lives of Aurelian and John, though brief and tragically ended, have become a shared sorrow—and a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance when it comes to home safety. Their loss will not just fade quietly but stands as a call for neighbors to look out for one another, to close doors, to check alarms—and to never assume “someone else will do it.”