Howells (Orange Co) firefighter's home burns

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From the Times Herald Record

Howells firefighter's home burns

Times Herald-Record

July 14, 2007

Howells — Fire swept through a house yesterday after a lawn mower caught fire in the garage, fire officials said.

After the owner of the house, located at 131 Whitlock Road, finished mowing the lawn, he placed the lawn mower in the garage, Howells Fire Department Chief Brian Scott said.

Minutes later, his wife came out of the house and told him the house was on fire, Scott said.

The owner is a member of the Howells Fire Department.

"This is one of our own," Scott said.

The fire spread through most of the single-family home. Shards of glass from the front windows lay on the grass below.

The fire started around 2:30 p.m. Billowing smoke filled the afternoon sky as more than 50 firefighters battled the blaze.

Family members huddled in front of the house to watch as the siding of the house crumpled. Neighbors came to comfort them while they waited.

Fire companies that responded included Howells, Otisville, Goshen, Westbrookville, Pocatello, New Hampton, Silver Lake, Wawayanda, Bloomingburg and Westbrookville.

The fire is still under investigation.