A response was made by firefighters to fight a fast moving house fire Wednesday morning. Fire destroyed a home at 53 Coronet Drive home in City of Tonawanda, New York.
Officials say an elderly couple, Al and Claire Festaiuti, who lived inside the 53 Coronet Drive home in City of Tonawanda, New York made it out okay.
"Either a police officer or a relative was able to escort them from the building just prior to us arriving," City of Tonawanda Fire Chief Charles Stuart said, "I believe the gentleman did have a little bit of smoke inhalation, but there were no other injuries to the occupants and no injuries the firefighters."
It was reported the police were called by the elderly couple’s son who lives in Clarence for a domestic issue on his mother’s behalf.
“Before they got here, before the police pulled up, the fire started. In speaking with the daughter, she doesn’t even think the parents knew there was a fire in the house,” said City of Tonawanda Fire Chief Charles Stuart.
The elderly couple made it out of the home before police and firefighters arrived. It is suspected that the fire started in a bedroom. After the fire was out a dog was found dead in the bedroom.
“It’s fairly gutted. Burned through from the front to the back. Some salvageable items in the basement but for the most part this fire took off really, really fast and despite our best efforts it pretty much consumed everything on the first floor,” said Chief Stuart.
Fire damage of the home estimated between $80,000 and $100,000. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and police are treating it like a crime scene.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
