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January 11, 2008

AuSable Acres home destroyed by fire

By KIM SMITH DEDAM

JAY — Fire destroyed a home Thursday night at 13 Cayuga Lane in AuSable Acres owned by Judy Sullivan.

Glenn Williams, chief of the Jay Volunteer Fire Department, said Sullivan, who is 70, was not home when the fire broke out.

But by the time passers-by spotted flames from two streets over in the heavily-wooded neighborhood, the structure was fully involved.

The call came in at 7:13 p.m., Williams said.

“There was no power so she (Sullivan) went to the movies for something to do. She came back to find the house burning; she arrived probably a minute before I got there.”

The house was completely destroyed in the blaze.

Firefighters from Jay, Upper Jay and AuSable Forks responded to the scene, with Keeseville standing by in AuSable Forks station. AuSable Forks ambulance squad also responded; no firemen were injured in fighting the fire.

Williams said it took about a half-hour to knock back the flames, and several more hours to mop up and collapse the severely damaged structure.

Essex County Fire Investigators started a preliminary inspection, but stopped because of darkness and unsafe condition, he said.

“They found a primary location,” Williams said, “the fire is not considered suspicious and they’re pretty much ruling out electrical.”

Sullivan lost everything she owned in the fire, Williams said.

“Everything except the shirt on her back.”

The fire department summoned help from the Wilmington Thrift Shop, which will help furnish Sullivan with necessary clothing and other items.

Town of Jay Supervisor Randy Douglas, Town Highway Superintendent Chris Garrow and Jay Emergency Services Coordinator Danny Deyo were in AuSable Acres going door-to-door to let people know about emergency shelter at the town hall when the fire was reported.

Douglas said support for Sullivan has been pouring in.

“We have had a lot of offers, even one motel-owner at Green Mountain Lodge offered to let her stay for free as long as she needs to.”

Green Mountain Lodge owners Tim and Cathy Gruenberg also have rooms available at no-charge for people in nearby towns currently without power.

Sullivan stayed Thursday night with Linda Dubay, an emergency medical technician with AuSable Forks ambulance squad, officials said.

Jay Fire equipment and trucks were returned to service by 12:20 a.m. Friday, a long day for many firemen who also work for the Town Highway Department.

Several of the men had been on the road since about 4 a.m. Wednesday clearing roads of debris from the windstorm the night before.

E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at: kdedam@pressrepublican.com

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