A wheelchair-bound man was rescued from his burning home in the town of Oswegatchie Tuesday morning.
Woodstove ashes left on the back porch touched off the blaze at the Bernard and James Compo residence on the McIntyre Road about 9:15 a.m., fire officials said.
Lisbon Fire Chief John McClear and a Heuvelton firefighter, Wayne Hutton, first on scene, rescued Bernard Compo from the flames and smoke without the advantage of any breathing apparatus.
The rescue took place on the second try, McClear said, as the two firefighters were driven back by the thick smoke and searing heat on the first attempt.
However, the first entry let them get a fix on Mr. Compo's location and they went back into the burning home. They were joined by Brier Hill Fire Chief Shawn Macaulay who had arrived on scene, said county Emergency Services Director Martin Hassett.
This time, "we weren't going to take 'no' for an answer," McClear said.
Mr. Compo fought the rescue, determined to save his dog. McClear and Hutton brought him out still in his heavy motorized wheelchair.
"We wrestled that guy - it felt like forever," McClear said.
Compo was taken to Claxton-Hepburn for treatment of smoke inhalation.
The home, a total loss, was covered by insurance.
Fire departments from Heuvelton, Ogdensburg, Lisbon and Morristown were on scene as well as Ogdensburg and Lisbon Rescue.
Firefighters left the scene shortly after noon.
