NEIGHBORS BECOME HEROES
Quick action stops Oswayo fire from spreading

Photo by Bonnie Baker

Quick and heroic action by neighbors is credited for preventing a devastating fire in the small Potter County community of Oswayo from spreading beyond the two houses it consumed.

A state police fire marshal continues to investigate the cause of the fire, which broke out sometime around 11 am Saturday.

By the time neighbor Deanna Johnson alerted Pat Miller that her home on Rumsey Street was burning, there was little anyone could do to prevent a major tragedy.

"A neighbor (Johnson) saw that it was burning so she ran to get her (Miller) out of the house and take her to safety," said Shinglehouse Fire Chief Doug Estes.

Within minutes, the entire structure was ablaze as Mrs. Miller, who lived there with her husband, Vietnam combat veteran Joe Miller, looked on helplessly.

Soon, the flames skipped to an adjacent, unoccupied house and within minutes it was also fully involved.

Witnesses said Heath Evingham of Oswayo recognized that the fire was threatening the Dave and Deanna Johnson residence across the street. He retrieved a garden hose and, as burning debris carried by the breeze landed on the Johnsons' roof, he extinguished it while awaiting firefighters' arrival.

Also rushing to the scene was long-time Oswayo resident Bill Simpson. He fought through the intense heat and falling embers to reach the Miller car. Then he summoned help from other neighbors and, together, they pushed the vehicle from the danger zone.

About 50 volunteers from Shinglehouse, Coudersport, Genesee and the New York companies in Whitesville, Genesee and Portville responded. With Evingham continuing to protect the Johnson home, the firefighters knocked down the flames at the two burning structures.

Estes reported that there were no injuries and both two-story houses were a total loss. No financial loss estimates were available. Estes believes the fire started at the rear of the Miller home on the first floor. There were no injuries.

"It was really windy and that helped the fire to spread fast," Estes said.

He expressed his appreciation to the many volunteer firefighters and neighbors who answered the call.