Fire at Peter Brant's Art Foundation

Greenwich firefighters were kept busy with two fires Friday—both apparently caused by unattended candles.

Firefighters from Engine 8 at the North Street station responded to the first fire reported at the Brant Art Foundation, the extensive contemporary art gallery and study center in a converted stone barn that was founded by newsprint magnate and real estate developer . The barn is part of Conyers Farm, at 941 North St., an exclusive enclave of multi-acre estates developed by Brant.

According to Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Nixon, an automatic fire alarm was received at 3:45 p.m., followed by a phone call notifying fire dispatchers there was smoke in the building. "We sent a full complement of equipment ... it was a small fire caused by a small candle that burned down and caught the tablecloth on fire," Nixon said. "It was put out prior to our arrival by the occupants and the call was handled by Engine 8 of the North Street station."

There was some smoke damage in the building, Nixon said.

Just after 6 p.m., firefighters responded to a second fire caused "again by a candle," Nixon said. This fire also was extinguished by the homeowner before firefighters arrived. Firefighters remained at the scene to ventilate smoke in the house.

"Using a candle in a house is a risk," Nixon said. "You should never leave a candle unattended as was the case in both situations today."

Both fires are under investigation by the fire marshal's office, Nixon said.