Former child actor's home destroyed by fire

Fire destroys home, Sedona Now Network studio

Jude Belanger, Glenn Scarpelli and their dog, Schnebly are shaken but in good health after an early afternoon electrical fire destroyed their home on Mountain Shadows Drive in West Sedona. Two men who were also in the home when the blaze started escaped unharmed.

Mr. Belanger was treated and released at the scene by Sedona Fire District emergency crews for minor smoke inhalation.

The fire started in an upstairs spare bedroom at about 12:30 p.m., shortly after Mr. Belanger and Mr. Scarpelli returned home from a trip.

“If only we hadn’t unpacked the car,” Mr. Belanger said, lamenting the clothes and other personal effects lost in the fire.

Mr. Belanger is not sure what caused the fire, but he suspects it may have been the wiring in the lamps or the wall outlets near a bed in the room. Mr. Belanger and Mr. Scarpelli had recently installed solar electric in the home. The Sedona Fire District is investigating.

Solar electric panels recently installed on the roof the Belanger/Scarpelli home melted during the blaze. Witnesses said the solar power did not shut off when power was cut to the home, which might have contributed to one fire fighter who was reportedly electrocuted and transported to Sedona Medical Center.

Mr. Belanger was stunned because he thought he was prepared, having several fire extinguishers in the home.

“It was like 30 seconds. It went so fast,” Mr. Belanger said. He tried to fight the fire with an extinguisher but as soon as he discharged it, “all of a sudden this wall of black just hit me. I was lost and I ran out. I couldn’t even go back in to get the car keys.”

“God, all our sculptures; all our artwork … ,” Mr. Belanger said. Luckily, he had taken pictures for insurance purposes.

Mr. Belanger and Mr. Scarpelli were planning to take a trip out of the country in about three weeks. “Can we get new passports in time?” Mr. Belanger asked, stating they did save their identification.

The home was a total loss, including the Sedona Now Network studio, a local visitor entertainment television station that also broadcasts statewide once a month on KTVK Channel 3TV in Phoenix.