Three house blazes in county; two lost

Firefighters across St. Lawrence County were kept busy Tuesday battling three blazes, with two houses destroyed.

Potsdam firefighters responded shortly before 11 a.m. to a house fire at 515 Sissonville Road, owned by Melvin Murray. The Norwood, West Stockholm and West Potsdam fire companies assisted.

The two-story house was considered a total loss, but no injuries were reported, Potsdam Fire Chief David W. McGregor said. Some family pets were believed to have died in the fire. The house was insured.

About two hours later, Norfolk firefighters responded to 33 Grantville Road to battle a blaze. The occupant of the first-floor apartment called emergency dispatchers about 1:10 p.m. to report the fire in the second-floor apartment. No one was upstairs at the time.

"The second floor of the home was fully engulfed when we arrived on the scene," Norfolk Fire Chief Peter A. Darabon said. "We had a good response from our firefighters, especially during the day."

The Louisville and Norwood fire companies assisted at the scene. The house, owned by Herbert A. Sweet, was considered a total loss. No injuries were reported.

St. Lawrence County fire investigators haven't determined a cause for either fire yet. The American Red Cross is assisting those affected by the fires.

A third fire was reported about 2:30 p.m. on 215 Cold Springs Road in the town of Lisbon. No one was injured and the fire was extinguished around 5 p.m.

"The house is a total loss," said Lisbon Fire Chief John A. McLear.

According to Mr. McLear, the fire started when the homeowner, Carl A. Washburn, tried to heat his home with a wood-burning stove.

When the fire department arrived the entire second floor was on fire, he said.