By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

ST. JOHNSVILLE — A late-afternoon fire that caused fire, smoke and water damage to a single-family residence at 24 Hough Street Tuesday remains under investigation.

That’s according to a St. Johnsville fire official Tuesday night, who said residents at that address have been dislocated until repairs can be effected and power restored.

Fortunately, occupants at home when the fire started at around 3:50 p.m. were able to escape unharmed.

Additionally, an undisclosed number of dogs were safely removed from the building and secured in a garage on the property.

Little information was immediately available, however St. Johnsville Police Officer William Pitcher said a mother and infant were in the building when the mother “heard a noise, grabbed the infant and got out.”

He said the noise was not that of a smoke alarm.

The officer’s primary concern was making sure that everyone was able to escape the flames, he said.

The building’s owner, who declined to be identified, was at the scene and said it was a rental property. It’s not known how many people lived at that location, although it appeared that there were multiple residents.

The fire official, who asked to remain anonymous, said at the time of firefighters’ arrival, flames were “shooting” out of the upstairs rear porch windows. The fire spread to the roof but was confined to the attic and upstairs portion of the residence.

He said the department’s aerial truck was used to light the building so that firefighters inside the structure could find their way.

The tower truck’s bucket was also used to remove a smoldering section of the roof in order to vent and wet down the attic.

Explorer Scouts and firefighters were able to recover belongings, including furniture, from the building.

Additional information was unavailable at press time.