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2 Middletown families displaced following trailer fire

The Fire Marshal's office is also involved in the investigation.

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — An overnight fire that destroyed two trailers and multiple vehicles in Middletown is being investigated by police and the Fire Marshal's office.

At around 10:36 p.m. on Saturday Middletown Police were called to the area of 500 Washington Street for a domestic disturbance in a residential trailer. 

When police arrived, a woman victim exited the trailer to speak with the police. Police said the man inside the trailer, identified as 55-year-old Eugene Boudreau, poured gasoline on the victim and the residence in an effort to light the victim and the trailer on fire.

The woman was removed from the area and evaluated by ambulance personnel, but refused treatment, according to police. 

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Police said they tried to contact Boudreau and have him exit the trailer but he refused to come out. Police established a perimeter of the property and evacuated nearby residents. Negotiators responded and maintained contact with Boudreau while Middletown Fire Personnel and Hunters Ambulance staged in the area.

A police Department drone monitored the situation from a distance due to concerns that Boudreau was armed or that his trailer’s propane tank could be a hazard if ignited.

 Negotiations with Boudreau were unsuccessful and he lit the trailer on fire, within a few minutes of the fire starting Boudreau exited. 

Police said they tried to get him to surrender from a safe distance. Boudreau turned himself over to perimeter officers but only after his trailer was fully engulfed in flames and a neighboring trailer was beginning to catch fire.

Boudreau was detained and Middletown Fire Personnel entered and extinguished the fire without incident or injury. 

Boudreau’s trailer, an adjacent trailer, and two cars nearby were destroyed, according to police.   

Police said Boudreau suffered burns on his body. He was transported to Middlesex Hospital and airlifted to Bridgeport Hospital’s burn unit where he is in stable condition.

The Middletown Health Department responded and quickly coordinated temporary housing for residents who were displaced from their homes.

Middletown Police Fire Investigators responded and this case remains an active criminal investigation. Anyone with information pertaining to this event is encouraged to contact Sgt. Daniel Smith of the Middletown Police Special Investigations Unit at 860-638-4131.

Doug Stewart is the Senior Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.

 

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