Mansion destroyed by fire after turkey frying incident in garage

On December 1, 2024, a mansion valued at approximately $2.8 million in Connecticut was engulfed by fire after residents attempted to fry a turkey in the garage. Firefighters received an automated alarm at around 3:40 p.m. EST and multiple 911 calls subsequently reported the blaze. Upon arrival, they found the structure already heavily ablaze, with flames spreading from the garage to the rest of the house. The Chief of the Weston Volunteer Fire Department, John Pokorny, noted the rapid progression of the fire upon arrival, affecting nearly one-third of the mansion. Fortunately, all 25 guests present at the property escaped unharmed. The mansion, which comprised 11 bedrooms and 9 and a half baths, stood on a 2.07-acre lot and had been built in 1998. Crews from several fire departments worked tirelessly for a total of 16 hours to combat the fire but were unable to save the structure, which was ultimately reduced to rubble. The situation highlighted critical concerns around the safety of cooking practices during the holiday season and reiterated the need for safeguards to prevent such disasters.