Volunteers battle fire in cold at Endicott

A fire gutted the residence of Larry Persons late Saturday afternoon in Endicott. Volunteer firefighters were called out in the three-degree weather to douse the fire.

Fire crews from Colfax, St. John and Steptoe all responded to the scene.

When the first crews arrived at the scene smoke and flames were coming from the house.

Jason Huntley, Endicott District 6 Commissioner, said approximately 25 volunteers were at the scene. Huntley noted that after sunset temperatures dropped to below zero.

The fire started in the kitchen area of the house which is located on the southeast corner. Volunteers had to climb into the attic area above the main floor to extinguish parts of the blaze.

Jenny Meyer of Endicott Food Center assisted by the Endicott Community Club made arrangements to feed the firefighters dinner which was served in the city shops.

Several pet cats were believed to have perished in the fire.

Whitcom logs show the first call on the fire was at 2:33 p.m. The all-clear report was logged at 7:11 p.m. Huntley said Endicott volunteers departed the station at about 8:30 p.m. to conclude a six-hour response to the house fire.

Colfax dispatched the rescue truck, an ambulance and rural and urban fire-pumper trucks.

The fire Saturday afternoon meant Endicott’s Santa Claus festivities were postponed until this Saturday at p.m.. Fire crews were called out about 2:30 and Endicott Community Club members assisted in the long fire fight in sub-zero weather.

Santa had been scheduled to arrive on a fire truck.