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October 22, 2008

Fire destroys old farmhouse, kills couple's dog

By RYAN HUTCHINS

CHAMPLAIN -- An electrical fire fueled by high-speed winds destroyed an old farmhouse Tuesday, ousting the retired couple who lived there.

The residents of 1368 Ridge Road, Wallace and Donna Duffina, were home when the fire started before 4:30 p.m.

Wallace tried unsuccessfully to use a water hose to put out the flames, Champlain Fire Chief Chris Trombley said.

The couple, whose dog died in the fire, will be staying with a nearby family, the chief said.

No one was injured, but the conflagration provided an intense battle for the 50 to 60 firefighters who responded.

The blaze, which started in a bedroom, moved so erratically and so quickly through the upper level of the two-story home that it took the efforts of seven departments to extinguish.

"Anytime you have an older residence, you have a certain amount of risk and a certain amount of difficulty," Trombley said after arriving back to the fire station.

And because the home was at the crossroads of fire districts, there was a limited water supply, he said. Tanker trucks were filled at two sites along the Great Chazy River, which is about three miles east of the home.

Fire consumed the second floor, Trombley said, and the downstairs suffered smoke and water damage.

The home is insured, he said, and firefighters were able to salvage some belongings.

"They were very appreciative of our efforts, although there wasn't much we could do."

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