Hot embers cause two house fires

Trumbull, Conn. (WTNH) - It was a close call for two families in Trumbull thanks to the careless disposal of fireplace ashes.

Two homes in a 24 hour period were started due to the careless disposal of ash from a fireplace. In both cases, children were home and it was a close call.
    
The first alarm in Trumbull occurred at 8 Elmwood Avenue.

Carlos Cuevas says one of his four children awoke and alerted the family to smoke.

It turns out he had put ash from the fireplace in a plastic bucket just outside the garage.

"Two days ago I put it in the bucket, the plastic bucket," Cuevas said. "Two days ago and everything was okay."

Ten hours later, a second fire broke out on Pert Street where embers were put in a cardboard box on the back porch.

No damage was visible, but the homeowner was slightly burned. Again, children were in the house.

"It absolutely could have been tragic," said Fire Marshal Megan Murphy.

Fire officials say they are surprised it is still happening since there was so much news about the fatal Christmas day fire in the Shippan section of Stamford.

Three children and their grand parents perished in that fire.

It's believed still burning embers set in a mudroom caused the fire.
    
Fire officials recommend buying a metal container designed specifically for disposing of ash.