In a dramatic turn of events on Valentine's Day, four individuals are safe following a garage fire that left them trapped in an attached basement in the Town of Hounsfield. Thanks to the quick thinking and fast actions of local firefighters, the residents were successfully evacuated before the first fire truck even arrived.
At the heart of the rescue was Captain Nichole French of the Pamelia Fire Department, who was driving with her husband nearby when the 911 call came in. Not waiting for the fire units to arrive, Captain French responded immediately, managing to pull three of the trapped residents to safety. It wasn’t until later that other responding units arrived, helping to safely evacuate the fourth individual.
A joint response from multiple fire departments ensured that the blaze was quickly contained. Firefighters from the Town of Watertown, Brownville, Glen Park, and Sackets Harbor all arrived at the scene, working together to battle the fire. While the garage and the breezeway connecting it to the home sustained significant damage, the house itself largely remained intact, sparing the occupants from further harm.
“Firefighting is a team sport. Multiple companies responded. Everybody worked together. They made quick work of the fire, stopped it where it was, got it out. These people will be able to sleep in their own beds tonight barring some smoke in the house that is getting pushed out now,” said Niel Rivenburgh, Deputy Director of Jefferson County Fire and Emergency Management. The teamwork among various fire departments played a crucial role in preventing further damage.
As fire crews continue to clear smoke from the home, an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire. Though the fire's origin remains unknown at this point, officials are working to piece together the details.
Thanks to the swift response and cooperation between fire units, the residents of Hounsfield can count themselves fortunate, escaping a terrifying situation without injury.
