A 62-year-old Fancher man was left homeless Wednesday morning after a fire consumed his one-room home.
Ben Little managed to escape safely and without injury, said Darla McGill with the American Red Cross in Orleans County. He was the sole occupant of the 10-by-10 foot structure owned by Lydia Duncan of Fancher.
The Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Department responded to the fire at 15862 State Route 31 in the hamlet of Fancher at 7:35 a.m. The bungalow was already fully engulfed, but firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze quickly, said Orleans County Undersheriff Steven Smith.
Firefighters with the Holley Fire Department assisted at the scene. The Kendall Fire Department sent a truck to the Fancher station as a fill-in.
All of Little’s possessions were destroyed in the fire, McGill said.
McGill appeared on the scene at approximately 9 a.m. with Interim Executive Director Diana Fulcomer. Both are trained members of the American Red Cross Disaster Services Human Resource team.
“I was getting ready to come into work when I (received) the phone call,” McGill said. “He lost everything.”
The Red Cross provided Little with immediate shelter at a hotel, as well as food and clothing, she said. Heidi Wyant and Joni Dix with Orleans Community Action helped provide him with transportation and refills on his medication.
To ensure Little’s needs are completely met, the disaster team will refer him to additional agencies, as necessary, McGill said.
The fire’s cause is believed to be an electrical problem with the home’s refrigerator, Smith said.
The home itself is no longer standing. Its contents were largely incinerated.
“It’s just rubble at this point,” Smith said.
Contact reporter Nicole Coleman at 798-1400, ext. 8227.
Local News
BLAZE: Man left homeless after blaze
- Local News
-
-
Hospice residence construction continues
The construction of the new Martin-Linsin Hospice Residence, which is now well under way just behind the Hospice of Orleans office building on Route 31 in Albion, will allow Hospice to provide care and assistance for those patients and their families.
-
Library construction, fundraising hit milestones
The project to build a new library in Albion is seeing a lot of green — both in the foam insulation that is being added at the South Main Street construction site and in Swan Library’s fundraising effort.
-
Albion plans for summer
Village officials heard details about this summer’s Albion Strawberry Festival and another big event that could bring visitors back to the village later in the summer — if concerns about street usage are cleared up — during Wednesday’s board meeting.
-
Theater impact grant formally announced
The National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, has awarded the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor a 2012 Impact Grant to support the launch of the Theatre on Main Street project in Albion in collaboration with the Albion Main Street Alliance and the Western Erie Canal Alliance.
-
Inter-county collaboration
The Orleans County Legislature finalized a formal alliance with their Niagara County counterparts Wed-nesday, a move leaders from both counties said will lead to reduced costs and increased services.
-
County management salary increases discussed
County Legislators will vote later this month on a local law that affects the 2012 salaries and benefits of nine county officials, with a net impact of adding $4,723 in payments.
-
Drug court graduates four
Four participants in the Orleans County Drug Court received cheers Monday for completing the intensive, three-stage program.
-
Albion CSD budget coming to view
The Albion Central School District’s 2012-13 budget is coming into clearer view, and school officials say the picture is better than at this point last year.
-
Medina student is Sabres Jr. Reporter
The Buffalo Sabres have faced many difficult questions during what has so far been a disappointing season, but it was all smiles when Oak Orchard Elementary School student Melanie Hibbard came to First Niagara Center to watch practice and interview players for a feature that will air later this month.
-
Group aims to honor Laughlin
The Medina Mustangs could play their next football game on a field named for longtime coach John “Pinky” Loughlin if the Medina School Board approves a proposal made Tuesday by the Parents Athletic Club.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
