Write a commentJust after 9am on the Saturday of Memorial Weekend 2017, a fire broke out in the second story apartment of Vincent Walcutt and Breonica Dings and their small child, over Paura's Liquors on West Bridge St at West 3rd Street.
According to Walcutt, he woke up to sound of his girlfriend, Breonica Dings' screams of 'FIRE'. Walcutt jumped from his bed and ran into the kitchen. "I could see the fire but it was mostly coming from the inside of the wall." said Walcutt. "Breonica was looking at me, as though she thought I could put it out, but it was already too far along and my dad being a former firefighter, I knew better than to try." Walcutt decided to make sure that as many people as possible got out of the building. Walcutt and his family are still in shock over the day's events, having lost everything including their car due to the ferocity of the fire. Other neighboring buildings received much, but repairable, damage.
All in all, there were 15-16 individuals in total affected by the fire. All lost their homes and belongings. The Red Cross was on hand to offer what help they could. IHeartOswego is taking donations at their location in Canal Commons, lower level between 10am and 5pm during this week. There is a GoFundMe page set up at: https://www.gofundme.com/vinniebreanica-and-doms-fire-relie
Upwards of a dozen or more fire companies responded to the fire, which burned for more than two hours. Oswego Fire Department, Town of Oswego, Novelis Fire Brigade, Minetto Fire Department, New Haven Volunteer Fire Department, Hannibal Fire Department, Scriba, Volney, and others joined together and brought the blaze to it's conclusion in the afternoon. The building contained a dozen or so apartments upstairs and two businesses on the ground floor, including a Vape shop, and Paura's Liquor Store which has been at that location for more than twenty five years.
Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow and Assistant Fire Chief John Chawgo were on hand to witness the blaze and offer support. IHeartOswego.com's own Mary C. Woods and Jim Pickett were on hand from the start, and covering the entire day, during which, part of the building's walls collapsed.
"We are still looking for all fire victims names and contact information, in order to get them whatever they might need" said Victoria Usherwood Gailinas of iHeartOswego.com and coordinator of donations for the Dings/Walcutt family. "We have already gathered a great deal of items including a queen sized bed and we will continue gathering and distributing items until the families are made as whole as possible. Right now, what is needed more than anything is a place for these folks to live."
The firefighters of this county are simply an outstanding group of men and women dedicated to saving lives and we are so very lucky to count them as citizens. Even with the steep budget cuts, they performed like well-oiled machines and saved the surrounding homes from sustaining major damage. On this Memorial Day weekend, it is fitting to pay homage to our own local heroes!
If anyone would like to make donations to the families, please drop them off at the iHeartOswego office in Canal Commons or contact us at 315-532-5056 to make arrangements.
Pictures can be viewed in our Photo Gallery HERE.
