Fire claims home in Peru

<a href="mailto:avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com">By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG</a>
Staff Writer

October 22, 2008 05:31 pm

— PERU — When neighbors spotted flames surging through Rob and Theresa Witkiewicz’s house early Wednesday, they frantically called 911, fearing the raging fire would threaten their homes, too.
When Peru firefighters pulled up to the house at 64 Elm St. minutes later, the flames were leaping onto the nearby utility poles, sending power lines crashing to the ground and creating a dangerous situation for volunteers and residents.
“Safety was a big issue,” Peru Fire Chief Chad Frechette said when he returned to the station about five hours after the 4:30 a.m. call.
He said crews were able to take an alternate route to the home and immediately began dousing the blaze.
But despite their efforts, the fully involved fire destroyed the large home and attached garage.
The home has been under construction for about two years, and though the Witkiewiczes had yet to move in, Frechette said, “They had just moved their belongings into the home.”
All those possessions were destroyed in the fire.
Neighbors said the family of six, including four children ranging from age 3 to 15, was getting ready to move into their new home.
They had recently sold their former home near Chazy Lake and were temporarily staying with relatives until they could settle themselves into their new house.
For now, officials say, they will remain with relatives as they begin to recover from their loss.
“I feel so bad for them,” said Beth Coolidge, who lives behind the residence on a neighboring street. “I just can’t believe it. They’ve worked so hard on the house and were just about to move in.
“I can’t imagine going through something like this. It’s just awful and devastating to see.”
Coolidge was asleep when her tenant called and told her their neighbor’s home was on fire.
“I got up and ran outside. The whole back yard was all lit up,” she said. “And then it (the house) went right down. It went really quick, and the house was so huge. It’s just so sad.”
Due to the ongoing construction and lack of sheetrock in the downstairs, Frechette said, the fire spread quickly and caused exposure problems for some nearby homes.
More than three dozen volunteers from the Peru, Keeseville, South Plattsburgh and Rescue Hose 5 fire departments responded, while Morrisonville crews provided standby support.
With a good volunteer turnout, firefighters were able to save the surrounding residences from extensive damage, Frechette said, though the siding on one home was partially melted and warped by the fire.
“Exposure was a big issue when we got there.”
As area residents surveyed the heaping pile of charred rubble that was once their neighbor’s home later Wednesday, they were glad crews were able to save the surrounding residences but were saddened by the devastation.
Yellow caution tape was still draped amid the blackened and smoldering ruins midday as utility crews trudged through the mud, trying to restore services to the populated street.
Red Cross officials spoke with the Witkiewiczes later Wednesday and said all of their immediate needs, such clothing and basic necessities, were already taken care of.
It was unclear whether the family was insured.
The cause of the fire had not been determined as of Wednesday.

E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at:
avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com

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