UPDATE: Stored Guns and Ammunition Ignited and Exploded During Moodus Fire

By Barbi Batchelder and Wendy Vincent

Fire crews from East Haddam, Colchester, Haddam, Haddam Neck, Chester, Lyme and East Hampton responded to a fire at 55 Clark Gates Road in the Moodus section of East Haddam Memorial Day weekend.

For nearly an hour and a half, crews battled the blaze and eventually knocked it down at 6:47 p.m. Four members of the Favreau family were reported as being in the home at the time of the fire.

The fire started in the den area of the home and quickly spread to the attic, according Noreen Blaschik, fiancé of the homeowners' son, John Favreau. Both were not in the home at the time of the fire.

Guns and ammunition that were stored in the den for pheasant hunting, Blaschik said, ignited and began exploding. There was major damage to the den and kitchen and lots of black soot.

The extent of the damage is unknown at this time. Two of the family’s dogs were in the house at the time of the fire, but were able to make it out safely and are being temporarily kept in their neighbor's horse barn out back.

The homeowner, Mark Favreau, was transported to the hospital with chest pains and his son, Mark Favreau, was brought to Marlborough Clinic for evaluation due to severe anxiety symptoms and a possible panic attack.

In addition to the homeowner, his wife, Jean; their son Mark and Mark’s girlfriend were home when the fire started.

Possible cause is speculated to be from a lightning strike during the thunderstorm that ripped through the area. The State Fire Marshall's Office is following up with investigations.