Yulan responds to structure fire

GoFundMe set up for victims

By SUSAN WALIGUNDA WADE
Posted 12/20/22

ELDRED, NY — At 8:45 p.m. on December 12, the Yulan Fire Department was called to the scene of a structure fire at 935 Rte. 55 in the Town of Highland, between White Lake and Eldred.

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Yulan responds to structure fire

GoFundMe set up for victims

Posted

ELDRED, NY — At 8:45 p.m. on December 12, the Yulan Fire Department was called to the scene of a structure fire at 935 Rte. 55 in the Town of Highland, between White Lake and Eldred.

Charlie Blanchard and his daughter Raven were home at the time, but escaped without physical harm.

Yulan had just completed its monthly departmental meeting, so a majority of its personnel were at the firehouse when the alarm sounded.

Upon arrival, the second floor of the home was fully involved.   

Yulan was joined by Highland Lake, Lava, Shohola and White Lake Fire Departments. Highland Lake and White Lake set up water sources at the former town garage in Eldred and at the Excelsior Hunting Club to fill the tankers, which were provided by Lava, Lumberland and Shohola. The availability of two water sources located in opposite directions along Route 55 facilitated the turn-around of water to the site.

However, even with these advantages, there was ultimately significant damage to the structure, and it has been deemed uninhabitable. All possessions were lost.

Also responding to the scene were the Highland Ambulance and Red Cross. NYSEG was on hand to cut the power to the site, and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Deputies provided traffic control.

Sullivan County fire investigators were called in, and determined that the cause of the blaze was an unattended flame, accidental in nature.

Yulan Fire Chief Phil Devermond said that firefighters were on the scene for about three hours, and Yulan was recalled a couple of hours later to address a small charred area that had rekindled. He said that no other structures or properties were endangered by the blaze.

Devermond advised that a fire of any sort should never be left unattended, and that periodic checks should be made to assure that smoke and fire alarms are in working order.

Blanchard has in the past served the community as a member of the Yulan Fire Department and the former American Legion Ambulance Service. He has experienced significant physical challenges of late.

A GoFundMe account has been established to assist Charlie and Raven. Visit bit.ly/3PDvg6d.

Yulan Fire Department, structure fire

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