Saranac home destroyed by fire

By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG
Staff Writer

December 06, 2008 04:08 am

— SARANAC — Dave and Eleanor Caton have been busy putting the final touches on their Bucks Corners Road home.

After months of remodeling, the Catons hoped they and their two young daughters could finally settle into the home within the next few weeks.

But an early morning fire destroyed those dreams and left their house in ruins.

Flames sparked inside the residence shortly after midnight and brought out more than two dozen firefighters from the Saranac, Dannemora, Cadyville, Morrisonville and Rescue Hose 5 fire departments.

"It was pretty well engulfed when we got dispatched," Saranac Deputy Fire Chief Andy Petrashune said.

Volunteers were eventually able to douse the surging flames, but Petrashune said the home is "pretty much a total loss."

Neighbors said the family had been staying in a camper next to the residence as they finished remodeling and that Mr. Caton was able to soak the temporary residence with a water hose as flames threatened to torch the camper, too.

The camper was not damaged during the fire.

One neighbor said the Catons had most of their possessions either in the camper or storage but believed some items were still inside the home.

Firefighters were at the blackened and collapsed home for nearly three hours as Lyon Mountain and District 3 crews provided standby support.

Officials are continuing to investigate the cause of the blaze but believe it may have originated from a wood stove.

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