PLYMOUTH – The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office believes a fire that burned through a family home in the Town of Plymouth Friday was the result of a burglar’s arson.
Sheriff’s Lt. Richard Cobb said police were called to investigate the incident after the Chenango County Bureau of Fire’s Cause and Origin Team determined the source of the blaze to be suspicious.
“At this time, we believe the fire was intentionally set and we believe this may have been done during a break-in and larceny at the residence,” said Cobb yesterday.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the detective’s division at 337-1863.
Cobb said detectives and the home’s two occupants inspected the residence and found missing and displaced belongings as well as a point of forced entry.
“When the fire began, all the power was turned off at the residence and the homeowners were out of state,” he added.
The Plymouth Fire Department responded at about 9:27 a.m. Friday after a fire began in the spilt-level, ranch-style home’s lowest floor at 4091 State Highway 23. The residence has a ground-level finished basement with sliding glass doors, a mid-level floor with a front door and a second story above it.
Crews found smoke pouring out of the building and flames licking their way up from the lower floor to the middle of the home when they arrived.
Cobb said the home’s occupants were out of state for the winter and actually on their way back to Plymouth when the fire started.
Jay Foster, a retiree collecting veteran’s disability benefits and his mother, Shirley Foster, also retired, stood in the burned-out remains of what was once their living room yesterday while insurance agents totaled the damage surrounding them.
“You can’t imagine how angry and violated you’ll feel until something like this actually happens to you. I feel for anyone who has lost a home to a fire, but to have it robbed and burned – I don’t know how to describe it,” said Jay, standing in his garage. He and his mother were forced to retreat from the interior of their home yesterday evening after the fumes became overwhelming.
Firefighters were able to save most of the home, but the lower level was nearly completely burned out with smoke filling the house leaving a dusty black film and potent charred smell on nearly all the belongings throughout the residence.
Following the fire, the Chenango County Code Enforcement Office deemed the building uninhabitable and a health hazard until it could receive major repairs. Since that time, Jay and Shirley have been staying at the Howard Johnson Hotel in Norwich.
“My heart stopped. I couldn’t believe it. I knew the power was shut off and there was just no reason for a fire. I just knew something must be wrong,” said Shirley.
Sheriff officials reported that the estimated damage to the home was around $100,000.
Shirley said the home was covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy and the family was being compensated for its hotel expenses.
“I used to say that’s a lot of money to pay out over the last 30 years for nothing, but it’s certainly worth every penny now.”
Shirley said she had lived at the residence for the last three decades, less than half a mile north of Foster Park, which was originally donated to the town by her father.
“I’d like to say I just don’t understand why a person would do something like this, but it’s pretty obvious to me they set the fire to cover their tracks,” she said.
“We appreciate the firemen who were able to save our house, and we want to thank the woman who called it in,” said Shirley. The fire was reported to local authorities by a passing motorist, who also stopped at the home.
“I don’t even know her name, but thank you so much,” said Shirley.
“Just a few more minutes and the fire would have been all over the house,” added Jay.