Close Call in East Quaker Fire

W orkers clearing limbs away from power lines spotted smoke and called 911early Monday afternoon saving a residence and possibly a man’s life as a fire caused damage to an East Quaker Street home. No injuries were reported.

Workers Nick Tousant and Jon LaFave from Lewis Tree Service, formerly Tamarack Trees, said they noticed smoke coming from the house they were working near just after 1 p.m.; Tousant went to the house while LaFave called 911.

“When it started coming out from the rafters; that’s when we knew it was on fire,” Tousant said.

He went to the residence where he could hear a dog barking and banged on the door. “I was just going to let the dog out when a man came to the door,” he said.

The residence near Granville High School is owned by Pine Grove Motel owner Ralph Krueger. Krueger said he was not at home at the time but was just across the street making up rooms at the motel.

George Hurley was sleeping upstairs when Tousant came knocking; Hurley and the dog got out safely.

Firefighters worked for more than an hour before finally extinguishing the pesky fire that started in the structure’s attic.

Heavy smoke was rolling out of vents on the north and south ends of the home as well as rolling as firefighters arrived on scene.

Using ladders they accessed the roof and began cutting holes to get to the source of the fire.

Village Fire Chief Russ Bronson said he thought the quick response helped put down the fire before it got rolling.

No flames could be seen from outside the home.

“Any second it was going to go – it was a good knock down,” Bronson said.

The specific cause was not known at the time but the source of the fire was electrical, Bronson said.

Fire departments including Granville Engine and Hose, Granville Hook & Ladder, Penrhyn, North Granville and West Pawlet, Vt., responded to the scene along with Granville Rescue Squad and village police.

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Tags: Bronson, Fire Chief, Fire Departments, Firefighters, Granville High School, Heavy Smoke, Ladder, Monday Afternoon, North Granville, Quaker Street, Quick Response, Rafters, Russ, West Pawlet Vt