SPARROWBUSH – Fire claimed the life of a Sparrowbush man early this morning despite the quick response of emergency units to his 12 Darraugh Lane single family residence.
The 67-year-old owner, who lived alone in the circa 1830 small rural home, was described by neighbors as a good neighbor, quiet, friendly, and kept to himself once home from his daily job.
The fire was reported by a Darraugh Lane neighbor before 1 a.m. on Friday morning. The neighbor said he heard an explosion and at first thought it was a nearby transformer, which he had heard explode in the past. Upon going outside to check, he saw his neighbor’s house fully engulfed in flames and immediately called 9-1-1.
This call brought dozens of emergency vehicles to the scene, including fire apparatus, police, and EMS as per a second-alarm fire call. Additional tankers were also requested in order to have water transported from the nearby Sparrowbush Engine Company fill site and down the narrow rural road, and for standby in neighboring firehouses.
Fie Chief Carl Van Horn said upon his arrival the house was already completely engulfed in flames. Firefighters quickly placed three lines in operation in what the chief said was mainly an exterior operation due to the amount of fire load. Firefighters were pulled from interior operations due to portions of the building quickly becoming unsafe and in various stages of collapse.
The body of the resident was recovered and then transported under the direction of the Orange County Fire Investigation Unit and Medical Examiner’s Office. The victim’s name is being withheld pending notification of family. Fire units were released from the scene at approximately 8:30 this morning.
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