PUTNAM LAKE – A family of four including a two-year-old child escaped their burning home in Putnam Lake with only the clothing on their backs when a fire enveloped the wood-frame dwelling on Lakeshore Drive Saturday afternoon.

Nine-one-one calls around 4:30 p.m. sent members of the Putnam Lake FD to the scene and when Chief Michael Gagliardi arrived, he sounded a general alarm for his department and summoned mutual aid from the Patterson, Brewster, Carmel, Pawling and New Fairfield, Connecticut Fire Departments in addition to the Patterson EMS Squad and an Empress Paramedic.

The chief said the fire began in the basement of the home in a well pump control panel.

“The people renting the home were on the first floor when the blaze broke out and when smelling and observing smoke, they called 9-1-1,” said the chief.

Flames climbed through walls and floorboards resulting in a massive fire fight for the all-volunteer firefighting force.

Gagliardi said no injuries were reported.

Volunteers from the Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross provided emergency aid to the residents of the home by offering financial assistance which will be used for shelter, food, and clothing.

Red Cross Disaster Public Affairs Volunteer Partner Mary Alice Molgard    added that “volunteers also offered emotional support and health services while in the coming days, Red Cross staff and volunteers will remain available to help those affected by the fire as they navigate the road to recovery.” 

Also assisting at the scene were Putnam Bureau of Emergency Services Battalion Coordinator Jamie Gagliardo, the Putnam Fire Investigation Team, Putnam County Sheriff’s Dept. personnel and Brewster State Police.

Firefighters did not return to quarters until shortly before midnight.