Mansfield Deputy Chief Kevin Danielson rushed in without an air pack to pull three people from a burning home

By Peter Yankowski
Journal Inquirer

MANSFIELD, Conn. — A local deputy fire chief rescued three people from a home at an alpaca farm after a fatal fire broke out Tuesday evening, rushing inside without a breathing apparatus, the Mansfield town manager said.

A resident, identified as 79-year-old Carol Dauphin, died as a result of injuries she sustained in the fire, according to Connecticut State Police.

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Firefighters were dispatched to the Khuyay Farm on Warrenville Road for a reported house fire around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Mansfield Town Manager Ryan Aylesworth said in a statement. The deputy chief, Kevin Danielson, was first to arrive at the scene since he lives nearby, Aylesworth said.

Aylesworth said Danielson “immediately entered the residence without an air pack due to the urgent need for rescue,” and got all three occupants out of the home.

Police said Danielson was in stable condition following the rescue, during which he sustained burns.

“I want to commend the heroic actions of Deputy Chief Danielson and the professionalism of all responding personnel who worked under extremely challenging conditions,” the town manager said.

Mansfield firefighters responded to the scene with mutual aid from the UConn, Willimantic, Willington, Columbia and Ashford fire departments, Aylesworth said. He said medics from Willimantic and Rockville assisted at the scene with “medical care and transport,” while firefighters from North Windham and South Windham covered the Mansfield station while local firefighters were on scene at the farm.

The statement did not say whether there were any other injuries. Aylesworth’s statement said he could not provide any updates on the conditions of the victims.

“Any structure fire that involves household members on the scene is traumatic, and this is a difficult and tragic event for our community,” he said.

Aylesworth said state police and the town fire marshal obtained a warrant to investigate the cause and origin of the fire.

Police said an investigation into the fire remains ongoing.

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