By DAN HEATH
CONSTABLE — A Constable family has been temporarily displaced after a fire late Saturday morning.
Chief Craig Demers of the Constable Fire Department said Joe Hilms, his wife and son were home when the fire started shortly before noon Saturday. The blaze sparked in a wood-stove chimney, spread to the walls of the home and eventually reached the attic, Demers said.
The chief, who was the first firefighter to arrive, saw smoke coming from the windows and eaves of the two-story wood home.
When the first fire truck got there a few minutes later, flames were visible on one wall.
“We knocked it down really quickly. We had to ventilate the roof,” Demers said.
He said there is substantial smoke damage and a little bit of water damage, but the family will be able to repair the house.
They won’t be able to stay in the home for now, however, because the electricity has been shut off due to wiring damage. They told the fire chief they have a place to stay in the meantime, and that they have insurance.
The Burke and Westville fire departments provided mutual-aid assistance, as did the Malone Callfiremen. Westville was also on standby at the Constable Fire Station.
Constable was back in service by 2:56 p.m.
E-mail Dan Heath at:
dheath@pressrepublican.com
