State police identify man killed in Colchester fire

Colchester – State police have released the name of a 66-year-old man who died Monday after being pulled from a burning house at 28 Park Road.

The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said that John Janiak, a resident of the house, died of accidental asphyxiation caused by high levels of carbon monoxide.

Colchester Fire Chief Walter Cox said that shortly after 5 p.m. fire crews responded to what initially was reported as smoke in the building.

Within minutes, he said, the call was expanded to a two-alarm fire.

Cox said that Fire Capt. Georg Papp, the first officer at the scene, said the victim's son was outside the home and said his father was possibly inside.

The son said he tried to search for his father but that the smoke was too much for him.

Cox said the son said his father might be in a first-floor bedroom. Cox said a search of the room uncovered no one.

Firefighters searched the home and found a black Labrador retriever unconscious in the bathroom. Cox said CPR was attempted on the dog but it did not survive.

Cox said Janiak was found in the rear of the dining room.

Firefighters initiated CPR and the Janiak was taken with advanced life support to the Marlborough Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Cox said the fire was quickly knocked down. He called in the state fire marshal and state police to assist in the investigation of the cause. Cox said the fire started in the front of the house in a bedroom and spread through the attic.

There are no hydrants in the area so mutual aid from area towns was called in, Cox said. In addition to Colchester, Bozrah, Salem, Gardner Lake, Hebron and Marlborough fire crews responded.