By Keith Benman, WWNY
Two elderly people suffered burns and 2 firefighters suffered smoke inhalation in a fire that destroyed a home in St. Lawrence County Friday morning.
Volunteers from a dozen fire departments were called to 518 County Route 17 in the town of Russell shortly before 11 a.m.
When they arrived, officials said they had difficulty getting equipment to the fire scene because the home sits on a hill three-quarters of a mile from the main road.
“Access was our biggest problem in fighting the fire. Getting trucks back up in here. Getting water supply established,” said Nick Friot, St. Lawrence Co. deputy fire coordinator.
Specialized “mini-pumpers” had to be used instead of full-sized fire trucks. For more than an hour radio calls were made for departments that had them.
Two elderly residents suffered burns and were rushed to Canton-Potsdam Hospital. Two firefighters were also taken to that hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.
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