A man was killed in a fire that destroyed his home Saturday evening.
Fire Marshal Brian Lampart said the man, James Boss, who owned the home, was alone when the residence at 25 Melville St. caught on fire around 5 p.m. Saturday. Lampart said 23 personnel from the Stratford Fire Department extinguished the flames within 30 minutes.
Once the fire was out, crews found Boss, whom Lampart said was in his early 60s, in his second-floor bedroom. Investigators are examining whether he died from burns or smoke inhalation.
Lampart said Boss lived in the house with his wife and son, who stayed with relatives Saturday night. Two dogs who lived in the house escaped and were unharmed, Lampart said, but a bird was killed during the blaze as were some pet fish.