A fire destroyed a house at 6945 Mcchesney Road in Howard Monday morning, the second structure fire in the town in 10 days.
Rob Patrick, chief of the Howard Volunteer Fire Department, said his department was called to the scene at 10:08 a.m. and upon arrival noticed the house was a total loss.
“The fire went unnoticed for quite some time before a neighbor happened to see the smoke and called it in,” he said. “It’s hard to say how long the fire had been burning before he noticed it but when our first firemen got on the scene, the house was almost on the ground.”
According to Patrick, Steuben County Emergency Services investigators are still investigating the cause of the fire. He said the house is owned by Floyd Helm and his wife. The couple was not home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries.
“There may have been a pet in the residence but that hasn’t been determined yet,” said Patrick.
Patrick said the homeowners have insurance. He said he is unsure of where the couple is staying now, but that he assumes it’s with family members.
Fire departments from Avoca, Kanona and Canisteo also responded to the fire and were on the scene until around 1:45 p.m. The Fremont Fire Department was on standby at the Howard Volunteer Fire Department until the same time.
The incident was the second house fire in Howard in 10 days. At 9:15 p.m. Feb. 22, the Howard Volunteer Fire Department was called out to a structure fire at 7447 county Route 27.
That residence was also deemed a total loss, Patrick said. The cause of that fire is still under investigation.
According to Patrick, a Howard firefighter sustained minor smoke inhalation injuries during the Feb. 22 fire. He was treated and released from Ira Davenport Hospital in Bath.
The house was owned by Sam Rodburn, who has insurance, according to Patrick. Rodburn and two other family members were home at the time of the fire, but did not sustain any injuries. Patrick said the family is staying with relatives.
Also responding to that fire were fire departments from Fremont, Avoca, Canisteo, Kanona, Bath and North Hornell, who were on the scene until around 3 a.m. The Arkport Fire Department was on standby for North Hornell during that time.
Patrick said it is unfortunate that the families experienced the fires and that he hopes the best for them. He also commended all of the fire departments that helped with both blazes.
“Mutual aid that we receive from neighboring departments is something that we need and everyone came together and did a nice job,” he said.
A fire destroyed a house at 6945 Mcchesney Road in Howard Monday morning, the second structure fire in the town in 10 days.
Rob Patrick, chief of the Howard Volunteer Fire Department, said his department was called to the scene at 10:08 a.m. and upon arrival noticed the house was a total loss.
“The fire went unnoticed for quite some time before a neighbor happened to see the smoke and called it in,” he said. “It’s hard to say how long the fire had been burning before he noticed it but when our first firemen got on the scene, the house was almost on the ground.”
According to Patrick, Steuben County Emergency Services investigators are still investigating the cause of the fire. He said the house is owned by Floyd Helm and his wife. The couple was not home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries.
“There may have been a pet in the residence but that hasn’t been determined yet,” said Patrick.
Patrick said the homeowners have insurance. He said he is unsure of where the couple is staying now, but that he assumes it’s with family members.
Fire departments from Avoca, Kanona and Canisteo also responded to the fire and were on the scene until around 1:45 p.m. The Fremont Fire Department was on standby at the Howard Volunteer Fire Department until the same time.
The incident was the second house fire in Howard in 10 days. At 9:15 p.m. Feb. 22, the Howard Volunteer Fire Department was called out to a structure fire at 7447 county Route 27.
That residence was also deemed a total loss, Patrick said. The cause of that fire is still under investigation.
According to Patrick, a Howard firefighter sustained minor smoke inhalation injuries during the Feb. 22 fire. He was treated and released from Ira Davenport Hospital in Bath.
The house was owned by Sam Rodburn, who has insurance, according to Patrick. Rodburn and two other family members were home at the time of the fire, but did not sustain any injuries. Patrick said the family is staying with relatives.
Also responding to that fire were fire departments from Fremont, Avoca, Canisteo, Kanona, Bath and North Hornell, who were on the scene until around 3 a.m. The Arkport Fire Department was on standby for North Hornell during that time.
Patrick said it is unfortunate that the families experienced the fires and that he hopes the best for them. He also commended all of the fire departments that helped with both blazes.
“Mutual aid that we receive from neighboring departments is something that we need and everyone came together and did a nice job,” he said.
