Williamsburg home damaged in storm-related fire
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WILLIAMSBURG - The overnight storm that dropped more than a foot of heavy snow on the Hilltowns made battling an early morning fire Wednesday at a home at 7 Petticoat Hill Road in Williamsburg especially troublesome for firefighters, whose access to the blaze was blocked by a downed tree.
The 2 a.m. fire was likely caused by the same tree, which brought down power lines next to the house, according to Williamsburg Fire Chief Donald Lawton.
"It started several small fires, and they just progressed," Lawton said. He estimated that $80,000 to $100,000 worth of damage was done to the house. The downed tree, which fell across Petticoat Hill Road, also made it impossible for fire crews to bring their vehicles close to the structure, said Lawton, delaying their firefighting efforts.
"We were about 300 feet away from the house, so we had to carry all the hoses up the hill and we brought the mini-pumper up the other side of the hill from Route 143," Lawton said.
He said crews were also delayed because the house appeared to be electrified - the structure gave off electric sparks when touched by a firefighter's helmet - and National Grid could not turn off the electricity in the area for 30 minutes.
Lawton said he does not know who lives at the house, but said there were no injuries.
The Fire Department, assisted by firefighters from Goshen, Chesterfield and Northampton, worked at the scene until 9 a.m.
Rebecca Everett can be reached at reverett@gazettenet.com.
