STUYVESANT–The Kelley and John Demarest family lost everything in a July 8 house fire at 956 Route 9J. Donations to help the family may be made at any branch of the First Niagara Bank.
Stuyvesant firefighters and Valatie Rescue were dispatched at 2:52 a.m. The family was alerted to the blaze by a smoke detector.
Hot, dry weather conditions intensified the fire. The Columbia County Cause and Origin Team determined the cause of the fire to be electrical. Valatie Rescue took two family members to Columbia Memorial Hospital. Greenport Rescue took one firefighter to the Albany VA Hospital.
CSX stopped trains during the fire and Route 9J was closed. National Grid disconnected the power.
The Red Cross assisted the family with lodging.
Other companies called to the scene or put on standby were Stuyvesant Falls, Stockport, Stottville, Niverville, Kinderhook, West Ghent, Ghent, Greenport, Valatie and from Rensselaer County Schodack Landing and Castleton. Greenport Rescue was called in with its rehab unit. County EMS and fire coordinators were on the scene.
All units were clear and Route 9J was re-opened at 11:28 a.m.