By DAN HEATH
PERU — A Peru home was heavily damaged by fire and smoke New Year’s Day morning.
Brian Westover, second assistant chief of the Peru Fire Department, said heavy smoke was showing when firefighters arrived at the one-story ranch-style home at 45 Connors Road. The home is owned by Thomas and Heather Giuliano.
Westover said Mr. Giuliano awoke to find smoke in the home at about 4 a.m. and is believed to have reported the fire. His wife and their child were not home. Giuliano was able to help their cat escape.
The first crews in had a difficult time finding the location of the fire due to the thick smoke, but firefighters did finally locate it through the use of thermal-imaging equipment.
“Our crews did a search of the home. They found the fire in the basement,” he said. “It spread from the basement to the first floor.”
The fire appears to have been electrical in nature, and is believed to have started near a panel box in the basement. Flames heavily damaged one room in the basement, Westover said, and there is extensive smoke damage throughout.
There was no damage to an unattached garage. Flames didn’t threaten any neighboring structures, he said.
Westover believes the home is salvageable, as are quite a few of the family’s belongings. He said he does not know if the Giulianos have insurance.
The family asked him to contact the Red Cross. Westover said it was unclear if they would obtain lodging through the Red Cross or stay with family at the time firefighters left.
Peru firefighters received mutual aid assistance from the Morrisonville, Keeseville and South Plattsburgh fire departments. A crew from South Plattsburgh was on standby at the Peru station.
Crews had to use water from tanker trucks to fight the flames.
The Peru Fire Department was back in service at 6:17 a.m.
E-mail Dan Heath at:
dheath@pressrepublican.com
