Chief: Homeowner helped keep fire damage contained

Nov. 16--BEEKMANTOWN -- Keith Burdo's fast response with a fire extinguisher helped contain a blaze Tuesday night underneath his home at 302 Pellerin Road.

"He kept it knocked down enough where once we arrived we were able to put water on it, we were able to keep the fire from spreading," Beekmantown Volunteer Fire Department Chief Darryl Menard told the Press-Republican Wednesday.

"We had some smoke damage throughout the house, but mostly just fire damage in a back bathroom and a bedroom in the back."

Keith lives there with his wife, Meagon, and their three children, four dogs and cat.

TASK FORCE

Beekmantown and Town of Plattsburgh District 3 fire departments were called to the mobile home fire at 10:19 p.m., a Clinton County dispatcher said.

Menard requested a tanker task force since flames were showing on the exterior of the Burdos' home when his crew arrived.

Altona, Chazy, West Chazy, Cumberland Head and Morrisonville fire departments brought tankers, he said, with Chazy's crew standing by with manpower at Beekmantown's station.

Fortunately, the flames were knocked down fairly quickly.

"They were all there, but we didn't actually need any (additional) water."

South Plattsburgh Volunteer Fire Department supplied its air truck, Menard said.

Overall, about 40 firefighters responded.

ELECTRICAL

Firefighters had to cut the floor out of the bathroom to extinguish flames that had extended between two layers of flooring, Menard said.

The two affected rooms sustained moderate to severe damage but are salvageable, the chief said, as the structure itself is still sound, but the flooring and walls will need work.

"The homeowner was very appreciative of the quick response. We kept damage to a minimum."

Clinton County fire investigators told Menard the fire appeared electrical in nature.

The departments were back in service at 12:36 a.m. Wednesday.

HEART OF GOLD

Tuesday morning, the aroma of chicken noodle soup wafted from Melanie Clark's kitchen.

She was making it for the Burdos, who are her next-door neighbors.

"They're lovely, lovely people," Clark said. "Meagon is so giving -- huge heart of gold."

Clark had slept through the fire departments' response, waking up about an hour and a half later to see an ambulance in her driveway.

"We thought it was an accident at the end of the road," Clark said.

GOD SAVED

Meagon said the kids were spending Tuesday with a relative until she and her husband figured out what to do next.

They do have insurance on their home and are not in need of clothing or furniture, she said.

She had little to add except that God saved her home, husband and family.

"We give all credit, honestly, as a family ... to God because trailers go up fast."

Email Cara Chapman:

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Twitter: @PPR_carachapman

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