Fire, smoke heavily damage St. Regis Falls house

Dec. 27--ST. REGIS FALLS -- Though the home at 84 Howe Road here is still standing, it suffered extensive damage from a fire and firefighting efforts here Wednesday.

Franklin County Dispatch put out a call for the fire at 5:21 p.m. with St. Regis Falls Volunteer Fire Department responding.

POPPING SOUNDS

Homeowner Errol Haverstock had awoken to a loud popping sound, St. Regis Falls Fire Chief Wilbur Bailey told the Press-Republican.

Upon investigating the sound, Haverstock found flames in the cellar and fled the house.

"He had to go to the top of the hill because he didn't have cell service, so he had to go to the top of the hill to call the fire department," Bailey said.

Bailey was the first firefighter to arrive at the home and found flames coming from the cellar window.

Seeing the extent of the fire, Bailey called for mutual aid for more resources.

MULTIPLE COUNTIES

Responding Franklin County Departments included Paul Smith's-Gabriels, Dickinson and Moira volunteer fire departments with Duane Fire on standby at St. Regis Falls station.

Mutual aid from St. Lawrence County was provided by departments from Hopkinton, Fort Jackson and Nicholville.

Assistance was requested from Waverly in Tioga County to lay down sand on the icy roads leading to the home.

EVERYONE SAFE

Bailey praised responding firefighters for a quick interior attack and knockdown of the fire and for preventing the blaze from spreading into the main floor of the home.

However, the main floor was still heavily damaged by water, smoke and heat, Bailey said.

But he noted that neither Haverstock, nor any firefighters were injured by the fire.

"They can replace structures, but they can't replace men and women," Bailey said.

NOT SUSPICIOUS

Haverstock was staying with family in the area, Bailey said.

He did not know the insurance situation on the home.

About 10,000 gallons of water was used in the firefighting effort.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation Wednesday night, but was not believed to be suspicious, Bailey said.

St. Regis Falls was back in service at 8:14 p.m.

Email Ben Rowe: [email protected]

Twitter: @benrowephoto

___

(c)2018 the Press-Republican (Plattsburgh, N.Y.)

Visit the Press-Republican (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) at pressrepublican.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.