Fire damages Richland home

A wood-burning stove and a clogged chimney are suspected of causing a fire that gutted an old house in the Richland area Tuesday morning.

The fire was the second in the past month for the Eagle Valley Rural Fire Protection District. The historic Waterbury House on Dry Gulch Road was destroyed by fire Jan. 16.

Tuesday’s fire was reported at 9:37 a.m. by Joyce Stacey. She and her husband, Albert, own the house at 35845 Governor Lane. The Staceys live next door at 35857 Governor Lane.

Joyce Stacey said her brother, Nick McCoy, had been living in the home for the past year and a half.

Eight Eagle Valley firefighters were joined by four from Halfway and three from Keating, Kingsbury said. There were no injuries.

Joyce Stacey praised the firefighters for saving her brother’s tools and a sewing machine he uses in his reupholstery work.

“The firemen need a pat on the back,” she said. “They saved his tools by putting the fire out.”