Fire destroys Saranac Lake home

Nov. 26--SARANAC LAKE -- George Donaldson lost his home in a fire here Monday morning.

"It's not burned to the ground, but it's all water, smoke damage," he said via cellphone.

Monday afternoon, the cause was not yet known, but Franklin County Fire Investigation was looking into it, according to the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department.

Donaldson was on his way to work when a cousin called him to tell him the house was on fire; the flames were quenched by the time he got there.

"The Fire Department knocked it down," he said.

Fire crews were called out to the blaze at 1822 State Route 86 at about 9:25 a.m.

Smoke was showing from the single-wide mobile home when a fire crew arrived, according to a press release from the department, with 15 firefighters and four trucks contributing to the effort.

The flames were contained to the rear of the house, with heat, smoke and water damage throughout the structure; about 10,000 gallons of water were used to put out the flames.

Assisting were departments from the Paul Smiths/Gabriels, Bloomingdale and Lake Placid.

Donaldson, who lived there for about eight years, said he has insurance on the property.

He didn't know what sparked the fire.

"They're not really sure yet," he said of investigators searching for the cause.

Donaldson said family and friends had rallied around to assist him with a place to stay and other needs.

Email Suzanne Moore: [email protected]

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