Milton family escapes burning home

They were uninjured.

Liverpool Fire Department Assistant Deputy Chief and Media Liaison, David Payzant said Chief Steve Parnell, who lives in Milton, went directly to the 389 Highway 8 scene after the call came in at about 6 p.m.

“His exact words to me were the flames were over the trees and they are pretty high trees.”

Payzant said it appears one of the homeowners had just finished using the mower and parked it under the deck.

His wife was barbequing above and noticed the smoke, he said, adding, at first, the husband attempted to stop the fire from spreading to the house.

“The homeowner almost got the fire out but it got away and that’s when they decided to leave the house and call 911. We saw the black smoke as soon as we left the fire hall.”

He added the North Queens Fire Association and Mill Village and District Fire Department provided mutual aid assistance.

“The rear of the home was burned quite extensively and the fire extended into the attic and kitchen areas. There is a lot of smoke and water damage as well.”

He said he couldn’t guess whether or not the family’s insurance company will decide to repair the house or if it will need to be re-built.

However, he said, “The firefighters did save quite a few items from the home. Once it was under control, we converted to a salvage operation and saved pieces of furniture and items of sentimental value.”

He added the first crews on the scene did “an excellent job. They knocked it down fast. The firefighting aspects went well although it’s never well when it’s a home.”

They left the scene at about 11 p.m.

Payzant said the occupants have a large number of family and friends in the area who were already offering their support that evening.

The home can’t be lived in at present.

He said any equipment that uses gas or oil should be cooled after use away from flammable areas. However, he said he wants to stress this is a general educational comment, as a malfunction might have caused the fire.