On Sunday, the South Otselic Fire Department responded to a fire at Gorge Road and State Route 26 in South Otselic. Fire departments from DeRuyter, Georgetown, Sherburne, Pharsalia, McDonough, and Cincinnatus provided mutual aid. It was a second fire in two weeks to cause massive damage to a local residence in the town. (Photo by Jessica Benson)

SOUTH OTSELIC – At 11 a.m. on Sunday, the South Otselic Fire Department got the call of a structure fire near the corner of Gorge Road and State Route 26 in South Otselic. The crew responded to the scene and found an involved roof fire.

The South Otselic Fire Department was the first on the scene and took command and were assisted at the scene by multiple other departments. Fire departments from DeRuyter, Georgetown, Sherburne, Pharsalia, McDonough, and Cincinnatus all provided mutual aid.

“All departments worked together to bring the fire under control,” According to South Otselic’s EMS Captain and Public Information Officer Carl McCann.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated. While the department could not say with certainty the extent of the damage to the home, the roof of the structure was caved in, and appears to be a total loss.

“The fire is still being looked into,” McCann said, “so there’s no further information at this time.”

Sunday’s fire came just one week after another residential structure fire in the Town of Otselic. On Sunday, December 7 the South Otselic Fire Department was dispatched to a fire near the intersection of Route 80 and Route 26 in the Town of Otselic.

The South Otselic department was the first on the scene and assisted by departments from Georgetown, Sherburne and Smyrna. That residence also suffere heavy roof damage and appears to be a total loss.

While McCann was unable to provide any information about the causes of the fires, he did reiterate that the department could always use additional members.

“We are always looking for volunteers to join the department to help support our small community,” he said.