Connecticut State Police have formally identified the two individuals who lost their lives following a severe residential fire that broke out in a Killingly mobile home earlier this month. The devastating early morning blaze drew an extensive emergency response from local fire rescue personnel, but ultimately resulted in the tragic deaths of both occupants who lived inside the single-story residence.
According to official statements released by state police authorities, the victims have been identified as 63-year-old Randy Fitta and 59-year-old Lisa Bourk. Investigators confirmed that both individuals were residents of the Killingly property where the fire erupted, and both were present inside the structure at the time the blaze rapidly spread throughout the home.
The emergency unfolded during the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 4, inside Fall Brook Park, a residential mobile home community located in the town of Killingly. Emergency dispatch centers were alerted to the dangerous situation after receiving urgent 911 reports that a residence within the park had caught fire and was burning out of control.
Personnel from the South Killingly Fire Department were immediately dispatched to the scene, with the initial emergency call recorded just before 1:15 a.m. Upon arrival at Fall Brook Park, responding firefighters observed heavy fire conditions, noting that the mobile home was already significantly engulfed in intense flames, with thick smoke rising into the nighttime sky.
First responders arriving on the scene were confronted with an immediate life-safety crisis. Incident command was quickly informed by witnesses and on-scene reports that two people were unaccounted for and were believed to still be trapped inside the burning building, drastically raising the urgency of the structural firefighting and search operations.
In response to the critical reports of trapped residents, crews from the South Killingly Fire Department initiated an aggressive attack on the blaze. Firefighters quickly deployed hose lines to suppress the heaviest concentration of flames while simultaneously preparing to breach the structure to carry out an immediate search-and-rescue mission in zero-visibility and high-heat conditions.
Operating under extremely perilous conditions inside the burning mobile home, search teams managed to locate both Fitta and Bourk. Firefighters worked swiftly to pull both victims from the engulfed residence, carrying them outside into the care of emergency medical personnel in an attempt to provide critical life-saving interventions.
Despite the rapid intervention and aggressive rescue efforts executed by the responding firefighters, the injuries sustained by the occupants proved fatal. Authorities confirmed that both Fitta and Bourk were pronounced dead at the scene, marking a heartbreaking outcome for the neighborhood and emergency crews alike.
Following the conclusion of emergency operations and scene stabilization, the bodies of both victims were transported to the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for formal post-mortem examination. The medical examiner’s office subsequently confirmed the identities of the deceased, allowing state police investigators to officially notify relatives and release the information publicly.
The exact cause and circumstances surrounding the start of the fire remain undetermined, and state police confirmed that a comprehensive investigation is ongoing. Specialized fire investigators and detectives are continuing to examine the physical evidence recovered from the scene to pinpoint the exact area of origin and establish what triggered the deadly conflagration.
Fires occurring in manufactured and mobile housing structures often pose distinct hazards to occupants and responding personnel. Because of their layout, construction materials, and compact dimensions, mobile home fires can spread at an accelerated rate, leaving occupants with minimal warning and drastically narrowing the window of opportunity for safe self-evacuation during the night.
Late-night and early-morning residential fires remain among the most dangerous incidents handled by municipal fire services. When blazes break out after midnight while residents are asleep, early notification is critical. The South Killingly Fire Department’s prompt deployment and aggressive interior tactics reflected the standard protocols utilized when human lives are reported at risk within an engulfed structure.
The fatal incident has left a deep impact on the local Killingly community and the residents of Fall Brook Park. Fatal residential fires invariably place a severe emotional burden on surrounding neighbors, loved ones, and the emergency responders who face dangerous conditions in an effort to save lives during structural disasters.
Authorities stated that no additional information regarding potential contributing factors, electrical issues, or heating elements is readily available at this time. Connecticut State Police and local fire investigators reiterated that the investigation remains active, with further details expected to be made public once forensic reports are finalized.
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