Firefighters battle more than flames

HOLLAND, N.Y. (WIVB) - Firefighters in the southtowns battled a lot more than stubborn flames Tuesday.

Other hurdles awaited Holland's bravest.

Fire crews from seven volunteer companies, across the Southtowns, responded to the late morning fire at a single story ranch style home on Vermont Hill Road.

As they arrived, Southtowns' bravest spotted light smoke coming from the house, then the flames came belching through the roof.

Holland Fire Chief Mike O'Connor said, "Our crews encountered heavy fire conditions in the attic, a little bit of poor access to the house. Multiple companies responded, and the fire is under control."

Chief O'Connor told News 4, the woman who lives in the house with her husband, discovered the fire, and called it in.

Out in a rural area, a fire gets a lot of attention.

Additonal manpower is summoned, so crews can rotate out, get checked for any signs of medical distress, and then return to the task at hand.

In sub-freezing temperatures, water lines, or nearby ponds can be frozen over, so oversized pumpers are brought in as backup.

Chief O'Connor said, "Out here, water supply is always an issue. We were able to hit one of our dry hydrants right down the road. Great response from our neighboring departments to relay pump for us. So in this case, water did not turn out to be a great big issue for us."

Fortunately no injuries were reported, although the house appears to be a total loss.

Officials tell us, the couple living in the house, is staying with nearby relatives.