The fire’s proximity to the house was central to how narrowly the incident was avoided: flames came within 15 to 20 feet of the home, and a child was inside. The fire started behind a neighbor’s house in Princeton, where Ben Goyette and Colton Stevens were riding their bikes.
The boys spotted smoke, checked the yard and saw a brush fire spreading toward a backyard gazebo and the house. More than half an acre had burned by then, according to Shrewsbury Post, reporting on a Princeton Fire Department announcement. They called 911, bringing police and firefighters to the scene.
The homeowner’s daughter was upstairs taking a nap while the fire burned nearby, the outlet reported. Fire crews extinguished the blaze before it reached the house.
A 30-Minute Window That Could Have Changed Everything
Fire officials estimated that a 30-minute delay in calling for help could have allowed the fire to reach the house while someone was still on the second floor, according to the report.
Princeton Fire Chief John Bennett credited the boys’ quick response, saying, “They saved a home and protected a life,” the outlet reported.
Not Princeton's First Brush Fire Scare
A separate brush fire began in Princeton on Aug. 19, 2025, and burned about two acres in a wooded area east of Route 31. Firefighting responses from about a dozen communities continued into Aug. 20, according to Telegram.com.
During that 2025 fire, Princeton Fire Chief John Bennett said the blaze was moving moderately fast west and crews were concerned about residences in that direction, Spectrum News 1 reported. In the more recent incident, the fire came within 15 to 20 feet of a house.
Princeton’s brush-burning rules
For residents considering outdoor burning, the Town of Princeton says brush burning season runs from Jan. 15 through May 1. A permit is required, and residents must contact the Fire Department each time they plan to burn for approval, according to the town’s Fire FAQs.
The incidents involved different settings, but both put nearby homes on firefighters’ minds. In the more recent case, the boys’ call brought help while the fire was still short of the house.
