Political writer Ed Plaut was killed in a fire in Ridgefield Monday.

Officials say the blaze broke out Sunday afternoon at a home on Hawthorne Hill Road. According to officials, the fire was first called in by the resident of the home, whose body was found in a bedroom on the second floor.Fire officials say they tried to force their way into the house to rescue the man, but their efforts were slowed by high winds and clutter inside the home.Plaut's caretaker says he is survived by five children.