Update: Fire Destroys 6 Fourth Ave. Home

A fire today destroyed a home at 6 Fourth Ave. owned by C.J. Studer.

“I don’t care about the house,” Studer said. “I care about all the stuff in the house.”

The fire was reported at around 4:30, with Oswegatchie and Jordan Fire Company the first on the scene, according to Oswegacthie Fire Company Chief Mark Schenking. The firefighters put the fire out in about 20 minutes, Schenking said.

“Everybody here did an awesome job (putting out the fire),” Schenking said. “The effort shown today was tremendous.”

The fire spread to the garage, and the vinyl siding on the house warped from the heat. First firemen put out the fire on the house, and then the garage, Schenking said.

“It was hot,” Firefighter Shawn Finnigan said, who was on the front line.

Nobody and no animals were inside the home. Studer had just left for work, and had no idea how it started, he said.

The fire destroyed the home, although it was still standing. All five fire companies responded to the scene, plus New London, Schenking said.

Firefighters were unsure how the fire started. The Fire Marshal had just begun his investigation at 6 p.m.