Utica firefighters: Neighbors help rescue people, pets from Buchanan Road fire

Four people including a child as well as several animals have been displaced following a structure fire Thursday afternoon on Buchanan Road in Utica, officials reported.

Utica firefighters responded to the fire at 3:52 p.m., where they found smoke and fire coming from the exterior of the house and spreading into the second-floor bedroom and roof, according to a release from the Utica Fire Department. Firefighters searched the structure and brought in hoses to extinguish the fire.

Utica fire Chief Scott Ingersoll said it took about 15 minutes to knock down the fire and that the single-family home is salvageable. Firefighters were also able to put down tarps on the first floor to save most of the belongings.

Public safety:Oneida County, New Hartford to share public safety equipment under proposed agreement

Police and fire:Utica police identify man killed in crash on Route 790

Neighbors helped one of the residents get out of the house and helped rescue their animals — a dog and four cats — Ingersoll said. One person was evaluated for smoke inhalation but there were otherwise no deaths or injuries, he said.

The cause of the fire has been ruled an accident and is believed to be from an issue with an electrical line entering the house, Ingersoll said.

The American Red Cross is providing aid to the four residents displaced, including a seven-year-old child, a release from the organization said.

H. Rose Schneider covers public safety, breaking and trending news for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Rose at hschneider@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Utica firefighters: 4 displaced in house fire on Buchanan Road