Off-Duty Captain Saves Three from Dexter, NY, House Fire Before Crews Arrive

Feb. 14—DEXTER — What started as a drive to check on a seasonal home for a friend ended with a Pamelia volunteer firefighter saving four people who were trapped in a basement because of an attached garage on fire.

Capt. Nichole A. French, with the Pamelia Volunteer Fire Department, was out running some errands with her husband and had the fire pager on when she heard a call come in for a structure fire with people trapped in the basement.

"We were literally less than five minutes away from the scene so we knew we were going to beat anybody there so we just headed that way to see if we could help," she said.

When she arrived on scene, she said she found a woman standing outside the Foster Park Road house in Dexter screaming for help, so French ran up the driveway and the woman pointed to the house.

When French ran into the house, the garage and overhang of the front door were already engulfed in flames.

"I ran inside and just, one by one, got them out," she said.

After getting the first three people out, the Town of Watertown Fire Department had arrived on scene and members assisted French in getting the final person out.

She said that if she were not nearby and helped on scene that "there was a chance that they weren't going to make it out" because smoke inhalation can kill a person before an actual fire does.

French said that those stuck in the basement were elderly and could not make it up the stairs alone.

"In my mind, I just knew. This is what we're trained to do. This is what I've been doing most of my life and helping people is a huge part so I just knew we needed to go and get there fast," she said.

French said the family was extremely thankful and were concerned about her being injured.

"I'm just glad I was close enough to be able to help and help save lives," she said.

Brownville Assistant Fire Chief Craig Postorino said there were no injuries to report, but said it could've been different had French not helped. The fire was contained to an attached garage, but smoke had damaged the inside of the house.

"So it definitely could've been a lot different," he said.

Postorino also credited a quick response by the Town of Watertown Fire Department.

Postorino said that crews found heavy fire and smoke coming from the front corner of the garage when they arrived on scene.

The assistant chief said the family became aware of the fire when one of the residents got up to take the dog out and noticed the attached garage on fire.

In the house itself, Postorino said that there was some smoke damage and some damage to ceilings as fire crews had to check for extension into the house.

The house is still livable, Postorino said.

The cause of the fire was not given but Postorino said the fire did not appear suspicious.

The Town of Brownville Fire District responded along with mutual aid from Glen Park, Town of Watertown, and Sackets fire departments. Chaumont and Northpole fire departments were also on standby.

Also responding on the scene was Guilfoyle Ambulance, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, state police, and the Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management.

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