An early-morning fire destroyed a Speigletown home on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, but everyone inside got out safely, thanks in part to working smoke detectors.
The fire broke out at a home on Tucker Pond Court around 1:45 a.m. Smoke detectors went off, and the three people inside escaped safely, Fire Chief Lawrence Funk told WNYT. No animals were involved, and the cause was under investigation.
A rural fire, fought from the outside
Like much of the hamlet, the area around Tucker Pond Court has no fire hydrants, so crews had to bring in water by tanker, and several fire companies were called to help.
“The building was fully involved when we arrived here. We used outside master streams to start off with, and then we switched over to handlines,” Funk told WNYT. Because the structure was already failing, he said, crews fought the fire from the outside rather than sending anyone in.
Why working smoke alarms matter
The fire is a reminder of two realities of living here. First, smoke alarms save lives: they gave this family the warning they needed to get out of a house that was soon fully involved. Test yours regularly and keep fresh batteries in them. Second, our corner of the Town of Schaghticoke relies on a volunteer fire company that has to truck in its own water where there are no hydrants. You can learn more about the company, its tanker and other apparatus, and how to volunteer on our Fire Department page.
Reported by WNYT NewsChannel 13 (July 1, 2025).
Have a tip, correction, or issue of your own?
Submit to the Reader →