Update – Wednesday, 6:50 pm
Officials attributed the quick-action of a neighbor, and the lack of smoke alarms inside a home on Hogback Hill Road in Palmyra to the outcome. The house, which suffered extensive damage due to the blaze, started on the porch around 3:40 am.
A quick-acting neighbor alerted the four residents inside of the blaze, which allowed them to escape. A half-dozen fire departments were called to the scene to fight the fire.
Palmyra Town Supervisor Ken Miller told 13WHAM.com that the property owner, Tracey Vanderwall, has refused to allow code enforcement into her properties for inspections, citing the Fourth Amendment.
As required by law, though, Palmyra Town Code Enforcement performed an inspection for safety, which resulted in the findings that there were no smoke or fire alarms in the bedrooms.
Update – Wednesday, 10:50 am
Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts reports that investigators have an active, open investigation into the Hogback Hill Road fire, which was discovered by an alert neighbor around 3:38 am.
Virts reported in a press release that the fire broke out at 4300 Hogback Hill Road. East Palmyra, Palmyra, Port Gibson, Marbletown, Fairville and Marion fire dpeartments responded to the scene.
They were assisted by Finger Lakes Ambulance and the American Red Cross, according to the Sheriff.
He says that the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Original Report – 5 am
Three people were saved by neighbors, according to first responders, after an early-morning blaze on Hogback Hill Road in Palmyra.
Crews were called to the scene just before 4 am, where the fire reportedly started on the front porch.
A neighbor noticed the flames, knocked on the door, saving the people inside the home, according to the Palmyra Fire Chief.
3 people escape house fire in Palmyra https://t.co/Zqfkr4sBxx
— Brennan Somers (@WHEC_BSomers) December 20, 2017
Six departments were called to the scene, which involved a series of tanker trucks. First responders say there were no fire hydrants present, which made fighting the fire difficult.
An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
