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March 10, 2008

No one hurt in Chateaugay fire

By DAN HEATH

PLATTSBURGH -- No one was injured when a Chateaugay home was destroyed by fire Sunday afternoon.

First Assistant Chief Matt Helm of the Chateaugay Fire Department said the 39 Church St. home of Pat and Brenda Blair was "a total loss."

Helm said he believed Pat Blair called in the fire, which was reported at 2:43 p.m. Upon arrival, smoke was billowing from eaves on the north and south end of the two-story home, as well as from all four sides of a cupola-like structure in the center of the roof, he said.

"When an interior attack was tried, on our first step in the door we had flames rolling out of the doors. The first room we entered was fully involved," Helm said. "It (the home) became fully involved fairly fast."

A steady wind hampered visibility on the east side of the structure, where firefighters had to use their air packs, Helm said. He said the Chateaugay Fire Department's Blitzfire unmanned unit was also used.

The unit is set on the ground, with sharp tips that dig in for stability. It has settings that range from a steady stream to an open fog pattern, a blanket of mist.

"It shoots a massive amount of water," Helm said. "It's a nice little piece of equipment. It frees up manpower who can be used somewhere else."

The fire was first reported as a chimney fire. The closest structure was about 60 feet away and was never in danger, Helm said.

Chateaugay firefighters were assisted by firefighters from the Malone, Burke, Constable, Churubusco and Ellenburg Depot departments.

Two aerial trucks, one that belongs to the Malone Callfiremen and one from the Chateaugay department, along with a standard fire engine, were used to fight the fire, Helm said. Another fire engine was one street over to pump water to the Malone aerial truck.

A crew from the Burke Fire Department was on standby at the Chateaugay Fire Station, while that department's Cascade system was used to refill air tanks at the fire. An ambulance was there as a safety precaution.

A crew from the Village of Chateaugay was on hand to monitor the two hydrants being used and the water supply.

The Chateaugay and Burke fire department auxiliaries gathered to provide refreshments at the Chateaugay station. Employees from Wendy's Quick Stop and Dave Leonard of Leonard's Cherry Knoll restaurant donated refreshments that were delivered to the firefighters and also to the Chateaugay station, Helm said.

The extensive amount of water used made its own brook, Helm said. It ran about half a block and into the basement of the home of Kenny O'Neil, who lives at the corner of Franklin and Main streets. A crew from the Chateaugay Fire Department was pumping the water out at 8:30 p.m.

Helm said he was unaware if any pets were in the home.

The family is believed to be staying at their daughter's house, Helm said. He was unsure if the home was insured or if the family would be seeking assistance from the Red Cross.

dheath@pressrepublican.com

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