WEST HAVEN — Three dogs, three cats, a cockatiel and several baby chicks died from smoke inhalation Saturday morning during a West Haven house fire that broke out while the family was down the street at an Easter egg hunt.

A neighbor noticed the fire in the single-family home at 3537 S. 2700 West, and called the homeowner, who in turn called for help, said Chris Quartuccio, an engineer with the Weber Fire District.

Firefighters had the blaze out two minutes after arrival, he said. "We saved a cat, two ferrets and two turtles," Quartuccio said.

View Comments

The family believes the fire may have been started by a heat lamp the family was using to brood some chicken eggs, Quartuccio said. "They think the two cats must have been fighting on the table and knocked the lamp off on the floor; that caught the chicken cage on fire, and that caught a chair on fire."

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.