Police prevent total loss
First to arrive at kitchen fire, kept it from spreading
NORTHGREENBUSH, N.Y. » Two town police officers are being credited with helping to save a house from becoming a total loss after a home kitchen fire Sunday afternoon.
Police said that at about 3:30 p. m. the North Greenbush Police Department responded with the Defreestville Fire Department and Wynantskill Fire Department to 4407 State Route 43 for a report of a residential structure fire.
Officials said Officers Michael Walsh and Shane Robichaud were the first on scene and arrived at the residence within minutes.
North Greenbush Police Chief David Keevern said in a news release that the two officers were able to see from outside the residence that there was a large fire in the kitchen and thick smoke coming out of the windows and doors of the one family residence.
Keevern said both officers entered the residence with fire extinguishers despite the presence of thick smoke limiting their visibility and ability to breathe. Officials said that both officers deployed their extinguishers and were able to douse the flames, stopping it from spreading further into the walls.
Police said the investigation into the cause is ongoing but it is currently known that the homeowner had been frying on the stovetop when the grease in the pan had caught fire. Keevern also said that it is believed the homeowner had then thrown the pan into the sink in an attempt to extinguish the fire but putting water on a grease fire only makes it worse. The fire had grown very large at that point and began working its way into the ceiling and walls.
“This highlights the importance of having fire extinguishers on hand in the kitchen”, said Keevern. “The quick actions of these officers led to a successful stop of the fire. This saved the family from suffering a greater tragedy from loss of more property, injury or worse”.
Both officers were treated for smoke inhalation at a local hospital and were released shortly afterward. The investigation into the cause and origin of the fire is ongoing.