The Burke family, longtime residents of South Windsor, tragically lost their farmhouse in a house fire on July 25, 2025.
The Burkes have lived at 345 Niederwerfer Road for generations. Their farmhouse was the first home to be constructed on the street, making it the original home of Niederwerfer Rd. The home has been passed down for years, and, at the time, was owned by the 4th generation of the family.
Before the fire, the interior of the Burke’s home was rich family history, containing furniture and family heirlooms that had been passed down from Mr. Burke’s grandfather. In addition to the material items destroyed in the fire, an irreplaceable member, the family dog, was lost in the fire.
The fire is theorized to be a result of heavy thunderstorms that occurred on July 25th. Firefighters speculate that a lightning strike was responsible for sparking a flame within a nearby tree, and the tree passed the flame to the porch of the Burke home. From that point, the fire grew quickly, and became increasingly damaging.
When firefighters arrived at the scene of the fire, Mr. Burke told them he had two water tanks, each holding 6 gallons of water, on the premises. He had purchased these tanks specifically for the purpose of putting out a fire, whether on his property or his neighbors’. Firefighters were concerned that the two 6-gallon water tanks on the property might have been contaminated with chemicals. Because they could not confirm the water’s safety, the fire department was unable to use it to fight the fire.
According to the homeowners, the lack of equipment and limited water supply also slowed the response.
The fire took about approximately four hours to put out.
“They would squeeze a little bit on the fire then put it back and take two steps back,” Mrs. Burke recalled. “They didn’t have the pressure to take out the fire. The water would bubble out the tank, and then water was going on the driveway, so the water didn’t really touch the house.”
Mr. Burke, who did excavation work, offered to dig a pond on his property. He envisioned it as a place where people could fish in the summer and ice skate in the winter, but he was told he was not able to dig one.
“We really appreciate everybody who came out to help, and the firefighters who put their lives on the line, and tried their best to put out the fire with little to supply,” Mr. Burke said. “[We] are thankful and very appreciative for everybody’s help during this time”
The family is hoping that the community is able to come out and support them by purchasing fire mums at Burke Ridge Farms. The Burke’s own and operate Burke Ridge Farm, located just across the Ellington border. The farm’s livestock includes cattle, pigs and ducks, and they sell milk, fresh eggs, all natural beef, pork, lamb and many more different types of meat. Their seasonal attractions include fall pumpkin picking and hay rides, a petting zoo, and a family operated ice cream stand in the summer, considered a summer staple among South Windsor and Ellington residents alike.
