By SUZANNE MOORE

Features Editor

CHAMPLAIN — Fire destroyed a home at 29 Cedar St. in Champlain this morning, the flames threatening nearby homes.

The entire upstairs of Ken Delafrange's house was engulfed in flames, said Village of Champlain Public Works employee Larry Sorrell. He could see fire downstairs, as well.

"It was going pretty good," he said.

Sorrell saw the heat blistering the siding on the house next door.

"It's only a couple feet away," he said.

Champlain Volunteer Fire Department, still at the site at noontime, was assisted in dousing the fire and keeping the neighboring properties safe by departments from Rouses Point and Mooers and fire companies from the Quebec communities of Hemmingford and Lacolle.

Black smoke roiled from the burning house, visible streets away, said Juanita Munoz, who watched from the Village Office on Main Street.

Delafrange is out of the country at the present time, said neighbors.