OXFORD – Local fire crews from four area companies worked in tandem in the early hours of the morning on Sunday to swiftly knock down an active structure five reported by a neighbor at 293 Wilcox Rd. in the Town of Oxford, approximately three miles from the village.
911 records indicate that an emergency call came in at 6:45 a.m., and no injuries were reported.
According to Chenango County Fire Coordinator Matthew Beckwith, the residence was salvaged from complete destruction buy the efficient dispatch and arrival of Fire companies to the scene.
“A number of factors contributed to the preservation of the structure; the early discovery and alert by the neighbor combined with the implementation of the new dispatch system that we've utilized. Fire crews were able to gain access to the fire and put a hard hit on it early, saving the structure from being a total loss,” said Beckwith.
The Oxford Fire Marshall was able to determine that the blaze was initiated by a malfunctioning pellet stove, and Beckwith noted that it was “a freak accident, pellet stoves are typically very safe.”
Beckwith said, “For whatever reason, the exhaust flue of the unit became plugged and caused the stove to overheat and catch nearby combustibles.”
A. Wesley Jones, Chanango County Emergency Management Officer, crews from Oxford Brisben, Guilford and Norwich responded to the incident.
Norwich utilized Quint-237 and the George Rider Hook and Ladder Company to aid in ventilating the structure with out penetrating the roof.
Said Beckwith, “The crews all worked well in saving what could have been a total loss, they acted with preservation in mind and with a minor renovation, the homeowners can be moved be back in quickly.”