Photos, video and story by JOHN ANDERSON
(Photo: A silhouette of firefighters on the Emerald Hook and Ladder truck was symbolic at the scene. Volunteer firefighters do not do this community service for recognition. The fire scene was stoic as the home belonged to one of their own, a first responder and police officer. John Anderson photo)
A home owned by the Kear family of Wellsvlle at 115 Rauber Street in Wellsville appears to be a total loss after a fire around 1 p.m. on Thursday.
No one was home at the time, but three beloved family dogs died in the fire.
An exact cause has not been determined, but fire investigators said they have narrowed down where it started and it does not appear to be suspicious.
The community is rallying around the family with a GoFundMe page.
Steve and Ashley Kear were working and not home at the time, their three children were not home, either. Steve Kear is a volunteer firefighter and a village of Wellsville Police Officer. He also has a manufacturing job and was working near Corning at the time of the fire.
Wellsville Fire Department Chief Greg Day is used to going to fires and having Steve Kear as one of the interior attackmen. Instead, firefighters were giving him a hug when he arrived on the scene and had embraced his wife and children.
“They are all tough, but this makes it a lot tougher,” Day said. “But we also know everyone, even non-firemen. This is a tight-knit community and each fire hits home. This one is also difficult because of the pets and being just after Christmas.”
Story continues after a video of the fire:
The fire spread into the attic, roof and walls. The only area that seemed to be spared was the back of the home, but there was still severe smoke and water damage throughout. The home was also well-known for years when Jim and Karen Insley lived there and it was their family home.
“At first we tried to save the house and as much property as we could, then we stopped all the hot spots so we don’t have to keep coming back,” Day said.
Firefighters from Wellsville, Allentown, Andover, Scio, Willing and Whitesville were at the scene along with the Wellsville Ambulance. Fire police, the New York State Police and the Wellsville Village Police Department also assisted at the scene.
Swipe to see John Anderson’s slide show from the fire:
