SHELTON, Conn — Shelton police made an arrest on Monday in connection to a residential fire that occurred on June 22 on Bruce Drive, according to a release Thursday.
Stephen Lupkas, 54, of Shelton, surrendered himself to police on an outstanding warrant and has been charged with reckless endangerment and illegal possession of fireworks, police said. He was released on a promise to appear in Derby Superior Court next Tuesday.
The release said that on June 22 around 6:30 p.m., police and fire personnel were called to the home on Bruce Drive for a residential fire. The occupants of the home safely evacuated before first responders arrived.
Police said that firefighters observed a fire concentrated in the home’s garage area. While fighting the fire, firefighters reportedly came across a significant number of fireworks, which were actively going off.
Firefighters suppressed the fire, which was at its worst in the garage area and lower level of the home, according to the release.
After the fire was extinguished, the Shelton Police Detective Bureau and Shelton Fire Marshal’s Office, with assistance from the Connecticut State Police Fire and explosion Investigation Unit, searched for the cause and origin of the fire.
“Investigating officers located a large number of fireworks displays in the garage and basement area of the residence,” the release said. “Due to the conditions, it was determined to secure the residence until follow up could be completed safely.”
According to police, a decision was made that the fireworks would not be removed from the residence.
Instead, officials would “reburn the contents inside the residence to mitigate them further for safety measures,” the release said.
After obtaining a court order, Shelton police and the town’s Fire Marshal’s Office conducted a "controlled burn" of the residence on June 27.
On Facebook, the fire department reported that three residents and a dog were displaced by the fire. No one was injured.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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