Rockland-area home destroyed by fire

2/17/04

Special Thanks to The Derrick for Allowing this Story to be Posted

The blaze occurred at the John VanGordon residence on Jordan Hill Road.

ROCKLAND - Fire destroyed a Rockland-area home early Monday morning and left a man homeless.

Crews were called at 3:30 a.m. to the John VanGordon residence at 379 Jordan Hill Road for a reported structure fire.

Fire Chief Randy Aaron said the blaze had already evolved into a structure fire by the time firefighters arrived at the scene.

The blaze started with a wood stove used to heat the home and quickly spread through the chimney and walls.

Aaron said the one-story, 20-by-40-foot structure will likely be declared a total loss.

"Fire crews were severely hampered by the ice and cold," Aaron said.

Firefighters could not pull their trucks any closer than 400 feet from the burning structure because VanGordon's driveway had not been plowed.

Volunteers from Rockland, Kennerdell and Seneca remained at the site for about three hours. Cornplanter was on standby.

Aaron said the Red Cross also assisted.

VanGordon did not have insurance.