Canton home destroyed by fire; 2 dogs killed

CANTON — Several fire departments were called about 3:30 p.m. Monday to a house fire at 605 Miner Street Road. Flames and thick smoke engulfed the front of the home.

Two dogs died in the blaze, according to the Canton Fire Department. Neighbors said people renting the home made it outside.

The structure was listed as a total loss.

Canton firefighters responded at 3:35 p.m., and requested mutual aid from Lisbon, Richville, Pyrites, DeKalb, Morley and Potsdam firefighters, St. Lawrence County fire officials said. The Canton Rescue Squad assisted at the scene.

The home, about 2 miles outside the village of Canton, is owned by William P. and Rebecca Y. Rivers, according to St. Lawrence County property tax records.

Several tankers had to hook up to a fire hydrant outside Appleton Arena on the St. Lawrence University campus to provide water for firefighters at the scene. A temporary water storage site was erected at the beginning of the home's driveway.

Tankers were unloading the water into the storage unit, then returning to the village for another load.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the St. Lawrence County Fire Investigation Team.