Burlington firefighters responded to a sounding alarm at a foreclosed home, but crews reported no visible smoke or fire and did not force entry

By Peter Yankowski
New Haven Register

BURLINGTON, Conn. — Call logs show firefighters had been called out to a foreclosed home on Stanwich Lane in Burlington after a fire alarm went off in May, two weeks before the skeletal remains of three people were found over the weekend by the person who bought the home at auction.

Firefighters apparently did not enter the home, which appeared to be vacant, and the alarm was left sounding, the report said. The episode adds to the growing mystery of when and how the three individuals died and how their remains went unnoticed for some length of time.

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An incident report says the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department was called to the Stanwich Lane at 2:15 p.m. on May 23 for an “audible alarm” called in by the police department.

A walkaround of the home revealed no smoke or fire, and the home “appeared vacant on the outside,” the report stated. Signage at the home indicated a management company to contact in the case of an emergency, the report said.

A police officer called the company and spoke with a representative to let them know of the fire alarm, the report said.

“Entry could not be gained without causing damage, and the alarm was left sounding. All fire units cleared without incident,” the report’s narrative concluded.

Connecticut State Police said troopers were called to the house Sunday after the skeletal remains of three people were found inside.

Authorities as of Wednesday had not officially identified the three individuals. Property records show the home was purchased in 2019 by Paul and Sally Anne Cash. The couple apparently stopped paying the $3,255 monthly mortgage in late 2024, records show, prompting a foreclosure proceeding that resulted in a default judgement against them for failing to show up in court, and the sale of the property at auction on June 6 .

“A new homebuyer, who purchased the structure ‘as is’ at a foreclosure auction, discovered skeletal remains of three individuals at the home,” state police said.

Paul and Sally Anne Cash’s niece said in an interview that Sally Cash had become increasingly withdrawn from the family over the years. The niece, Corinne Handy, said she did not know they had moved to Connecticut until she was contacted by police.

The Burlington Volunteer Fire Department also went out to the home to meter it for carbon monoxide on Sunday — the day the remains were found by the buyer, reports provided by the department said. The report indicated the fire department’s call occurred after state police responded to the home for the discovery of the remains.

The report said the metering showed no carbon monoxide was present and the fire department cleared the call.

What is your department’s policy when responding to alarms at vacant, abandoned or foreclosed properties? Under what circumstances would you consider forcing entry if there are no visible signs of fire or an emergency?

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