OXFORD – A family is left homeless Thursday night after a structure fire ravaged through a two-story wood frame house in the Town of Oxford.

At approximately 3:15 on Thursday, Jan. 23, fire crews from multiple townships were summoned the scene of the blaze at 611 Owlville road, approximately 10 miles southeast of the Village of Oxford.

Shortly after the initial call at approximately 3:30 p.m., Chenango County Fire Mutual Aid Dispatchers requested Engine 262 from the Town of Brisben to set up water supply and pump out of a pond on nearby Kilroy Road.

In addition to the supplemental Engines, tankers from Greene, Brisben and Oxford and Bainbridge were all requested and en route to assist the Oxford volunteer fire company, who was first to the scene. Tankers traveled to and from the satellite pumping station on Kilroy to the scene, about two miles away.

Oxford Fire Chief Michael Cobb said, “The ice on top of the pond was about ten inches thick, but we were able to penetrate the surface with chainsaws to pump into the tankers.”

According to Chenango County Emergency Services Coordinator A. Wesly Jones, the structure was fully involved upon the arrival of emergence personnel. Said Jones, “Within approximately 20 minutes of arrival, the structure was on the ground and a total loss. From there on it was a matter of containment and personnel safety.”