By BOB BENNETT
TUPPER LAKE — A Tupper Lake home was damaged when an electrical fire erupted in the rear of the structure.
The home is owned and occupied by Lee Gonyea and his family. Four people are believed to reside at the 18 Pleasant Ave. home, according to Tupper Lake Fire Department First Assistant Chief Mark Picerno. He said one of the occupants reported the fire, which started at about 9:12 a.m. Saturday.
Picerno said the rear of the structure was completely destroyed, and the kitchen suffered heavy heat and smoke damage.
It's unclear whether the home was insured.
"It was a hot one," Picerno said.
When he arrived at the scene, he saw "heavy, heavy dark black smoke."
Firefighters were forced to back out and ventilate the home by cutting into the roof before they could proceed with extinguishing the blaze.
Thirty-three firefighters from the Tupper Lake Fire Department responded, along with three fire trucks.
The Piercefield Fire Department provided mutual aid and a breathing air cascade system.
Tupper Lake Rescue stood by while firefighters extinguished the blaze, which was knocked down in approximately a half-hour, Picerno said. Departments were back in service by 1 p.m.
The Red Cross was contacted, Picerno said. He could not say where the family will stay.
