4-month-old boy dies in Hebron fire

Dec. 23—HEBRON — A 4-month-old boy died in a fire that destroyed a house in Hebron on Tuesday morning.

Fire broke out at about 9:15 a.m. at a single-family ranch house at 59 Thunder Way. Several local departments were called to the scene, including Argyle, Salem, Hartford, Cossayuna and Hebron.

The boy's grandmother, Angela Funiciello, said in an email that the infant, whose name is Richard Ringer, perished in the fire and the family dog died as well.

"The whole thing is heartbreaking and I don't know how to help. There was no insurance on the home. Everything's gone. Our baby is gone," she said in an email.

State police spokeswoman Meghan Lohman said one adult and one child were transported to Glens Falls Hospital for smoke inhalation.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the victims of the fire — Tori Ringer and her husband Ricky and their 2-year-old son Maxwell — and can be found at https://bit.ly/2WFWhvq. State police said Tori and Maxwell were taken to Glens Falls Hospital.

Maxwell is in a burn unit, according to the organizer of the GoFundMe. She did not say where he is receiving treatment. There was no word on their condition.

As of 12:20 a.m. Wednesday morning, $13,507 had been raised for the cause.

"Anything will help. Not only do they have to replace everything they owned, they have to bury their beautiful baby and still make a Christmas for Maxwell. Please help," wrote Ringer's cousin, Ericia Zellars, who organized the GoFundMe page.

Tori Ringer's cousin, Joseph Wood, told NewsChannel 13, The Post-Star's media partner, that he was on Thunder Way when he heard screaming for help. He asked her if everyone was out and she said one child was still in the house. He tried to get into the house, but could not get in.

"I tried to get through the front door, but the smoke was too heavy at the time. I went (onto) my stomach. I tried to get through, but I just couldn't get in," he said. "The smoke engulfed my face. I couldn't breathe."

Wood said it was difficult for fire crews to get to the site. The house is off a steep snow-covered road.

Hebron Assistant Fire Chief David Getty said firefighters were at the house all day and the scene has been turned over to state police. He did not provide specific details on the cause at this point.

State police said late Tuesday that there was no new information on the case, but said expected to be able to send a press release on Wednesday after 11 a.m.

There was no immediate word on a cause. State police will be investigating the fire with the assistance of the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the Washington County Bureau of Fire Control.

Tim Hardy, deputy director of the Washington County Department of Public Safety, said about 11 agencies were on the scene investigating the fire.

The property is on a private road off Route 30. Fire officials were not allowing media access to the site. The road was closed to traffic at Cross Road.

Check poststar.com for updates.

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