By JOE LoTEMPLIO
SARANAC — An early-morning fire ruined the opening of Christmas presents for a Saranac family, but everyone managed to escape unharmed.
The fire started at about 5:10 a.m. at a home owned by Whitey and Flo Keese on a remote stretch of Cold Brook Road.
The Keese's daughter was living in the converted summer camp with her two teen-age daughters, Saranac Fire Chief Donald Uhler said.
The residents woke up shortly after 5 a.m. in excitement to open their gifts. As they were unwrapping, their glee turned to fright as they noticed flames shooting out of a back bedroom where one of the girls had been sleeping moments before.
The fire shot through the old wooden structure causing Keese and the girls to make a run for it.
"By the time they got out, flames were shooting through the roof it moved that fast," Uhler said.
The girls and their mother sought to escape by car, but soon realized the keys were still inside the raging house.
They were forced to run in pajamas and socks about a half-mile down the road to a neighbor. In their haste, they left a car door ajar.
"When we got there, there was no one to be found and we saw that car door open and our hearts just jumped into our throats," Uhler said.
"It took about a half-hour to figure out that no one was in the house."
The roof had already collapsed by the time firefighters arrived, and there was no saving the house.
Some nearby buildings were saved as firefighters from Saranac received help from Dannemora, Lyon Mountain and Cadyville departments.
Bloomingdale and Morrisonville firefighters stood guard at the Saranac stations in case another fire erupted somewhere.
"That's one thing about volunteers, they always show up when you need them, even on Christmas Day," Uhler said.
The Keese's home did not have a wood stove or a fire place, Uhler said, and it appeared that the cause of the fire was electrical.
Firefighters spent about four hours making sure the flames were quelled as the Keese's sought refuge at Whitey and Flo's home where they will be staying.
Firefighters were called back when flames re-kindled for a short time at about 4 p.m.
"I feel bad that this had to happen to them on Christmas, but we are all glad that no one was hurt and they all got out safe," Uhler said.
E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com
