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January 19, 2008

Woman loses home to fire

By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG

FORT COVINGTON -- A local woman is now staying with relatives after a raging blaze destroyed her Foster Road home Friday afternoon.

Lillian Tracy was taking a nap around 4 p.m. when she suddenly awoke to find her two-story home filling with smoke.

After grabbing her phone and calling Franklin County Emergency Dispatch, she ran to safety outside as smoke and flames surged through the older residence.

"She was able to get out safely," Fort Covington Fire Chief Bob Hosler said Saturday afternoon.

Within minutes, fire crews from Fort Covington, Constable, Bombay, Bangor, Hogansburg and Westville arrived at the rural home to find thick smoke and flames billowing from the residence.

As they worked to douse the 347 Foster Road home, flames erupted through the attic and a portion of the second floor collapsed, filling the kitchen area with hot embers and debris.

And with high winds sweeping across the area and temperatures dropping to frigid lows, Hosler said crews initially had a difficult time knocking down the blaze.

The property was soon slick by the many gallons of water that were poured onto the fire, posing a danger to volunteers as they inspected the charred and blackened skeleton of the home.

Luckily, he said, no firefighters were injured as they battled the blaze and worked to secure the ash- and ice-covered area.

He was unsure Saturday whether Mrs. Tracy's pet cats were able to escape the fiery home.

Hosler said the residence and its attached garage are now considered a total loss.

He said the exact cause of the fire has yet to be determined and is being investigated by the Franklin County Cause and Origin Team.

He credited mutual-aid responders and the estimated 40 volunteers for their quick and professional response battling the afternoon blaze.

Many firefighters remained at the burned-out home for nearly five hours as officials investigated the fire and crews secured the area.

Hosler said he believes Mrs. Tracy will continue to stay with relatives as she begins to recover from the devastating loss.

avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com

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