BETHEL - A Bethel couple and their 2-year-old granddaughter escaped injury Friday night when a fire destroyed the couple's new, two-story home.

Steven and Paula Sutton, who were home at the time with their granddaughter, lost everything, Bethel fire Assistant Chief Jim Young said by phone Saturday evening. The house was insured.

"The upstairs is pretty much all gone and the downstairs has a lot of water and smoke damage," Young said. "The family is staying in a house across the road, thanks to local contractor Ron Savage. They didn't have much clothing, but at least they've got a roof over their heads."

Young said the 7:45 p.m. fire at 13 Haley Lane began in and around the metal chimney, then spread to the house and became a structure fire.

Haley Lane is off Intervale Road, about four miles east of the fire station.

Bethel firefighters were called out, along with Newry and Greenwood. Twenty-five firefighters fought the blaze for two hours before getting it under control.

"Everyone said it was one of the hottest blazes they've been to. All-new buildings are airtight, and the material inside was all pine boards, so it had plenty of fuel. When I got there, most of the fire was around the chimney area," Young said.

He didn't, however, understand how the chimney fire started since Steven Sutton was burning several different kinds of dry wood.

That determination could be decided Monday, when an investigator with the State Fire Marshal's Office is expected to inspect the scene.

The Suttons had lived in the two-year-old home for a year, Young said.