Fire destroys North Canaan home

 People and horses all safe

NORTH CANAAN — A fire raged through a Moses Mead Road home Monday, Jan. 30, destroying in about two hours the residence of Michael Subklew and Rudy Molina.

No one was home at the time and there were no injuries related to the fire. Four horses in a stable about 50 feet behind the house remained safe in an adjoining fenced field while firefighters from eight towns battled the very stubborn blaze. They were hampered by an unsteady supply of water and gusty winds.

Canaan Fire Company’s aerial ladder truck was first in, but key to the attack was getting water to it. A succession of tankers arrived and refilled at a stream around the corner on Carlson Road, but it was not enough.

Flames became trapped high in the home’s cathedral ceiling and could not be extinguished until they had consumed the roof. Heavy smoke rolled across Canaan Valley.

Subklew owned the barn-red  log home for 19 years. The property straddles the Massachusetts state line.

He told The Journal he had been at work when he got the call. Molina had run out on an errand but had not been gone long when a neighbor saw smoke and called 911. The first dispatch, for both North Canaan and Lakeville Hose Co. went out at 12:57 p.m. The fire volunteers arrived to find flames shooting out of the south side of the house.

In the next 20 minutes, Norfolk, Sheffield, New Marlborough, Falls Village, Cornwall and Sharon were dispatched. The primary need was for a tanker brigade.

At about 1:45 pm., North Canaan’s ladder was dropped to the north side of the house, where flames still poured out of an upper window. A fireman sprayed foam and water inside toward the underside of the roof, but there was already little left to be saved.

Subklew was comforted at the scene by Norfolk Fire Chaplain Erick Olson, who is also his pastor.

John Deely arrived from Falls Village, toting a bag of carrots for his horse, who boards there. Of course the fire came as a shock. He was relieved to find both his horse and his friend were safe, and offered to fetch a coat for Subklew, who watched his home burn while wrapped in a blue ambulance blanket.

“I have on all the clothes I have left,” Subklew said, as the reality of the situation began to set in.

Still, he was smiling and said he would be fine. He owns buildings where he can stay and already had an offer from a neighbor.

“I’m not sure what I should do now,” he said, “but at least no one was hurt.”

Fire Marshal Michael Fitting was on the scene and called the state fire marshal’s office in to help with the investigation.

They were on the scene until about 10:30 p.m. but are still calling the fire’s origin undetermined. The investigation continued with several possible causes.

Fitting said a pellet stove, which was in use when the fire started, was ruled out.

Click here for another picture for this story.
 

Latest News

A scenic 32-mile loop through Litchfield County

Whenever I need to get a quick but scenic bicycle ride but don’t have time to organize a group ride that involves driving to a meeting point, I just turn right out of my driveway. That begins a 32-mile loop through some of the prettiest scenery in northern Litchfield County.

I ride south on Undermountain Road (Route 41 South) into Salisbury and turn right on Main Street (Route 44 West). If I’m meeting friends, we gather at the parking area on the west side of Salisbury Town Hall where parking is never a problem.

Keep ReadingShow less
Biking Ancramdale to Copake

This is a lovely ride that loops from Ancramdale north to Copake and back. At just over 23 miles and about 1,300 feet of elevation gain, it’s a perfect route for intermediate recreational riders and takes about two hours to complete. It’s entirely on quiet roads with little traffic, winding through rolling hills, open countryside, picturesque farms and several lakes.

Along the way, you’ll pass a couple of farmstands that are worth a quick visit. There is only one hill that might be described as steep, but it is quite short — probably less than a quarter-mile.

Keep ReadingShow less
Taking on Tanglewood

Aerial view of The Shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass.

Provided

Now is the perfect time to plan ahead for symphonic music this summer at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts. Here are a few highlights from the classical programming.

Saturday, July 5: Shed Opening Night at 8 p.m. Andris Nelsons conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra as Daniil Trifonov plays piano in an All-Rachmaninoff program. The Piano Concerto No. 3 was completed in 1909 and was written specifically to be debuted in the composer’s American tour, at another time of unrest and upheaval in Russia. Trifonev is well-equipped to take on what is considered among the most technically difficult piano pieces. This program also includes Symphonic Dances, a work encapsulating many ideas and much nostalgia.

Keep ReadingShow less
James H. Fox

SHARON — James H. Fox, resident of Sharon, passed away on May 30, 2025, at Vassar Brothers Hospital.

Born in New York, New York, to Herbert Fox and Margaret Moser, James grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. He spent his summers in Gaylordsville, Connecticut, where he developed a deep connection to the community.

Keep ReadingShow less