Watertown Daily Times
Wednesday, Dec 26, 1984
Potsdam Man, 82,
Dead after Blaze
Potsdam - An 82-year-old man died in an early morning Christmas Day fire which gutted his home at 76 Main St.
Two Potsdam firemen were burned trying to rescue Joseph D Regan from the burning building and two other Potsdam firefighters also were injured battling the blaze.
The fire, which had engulfed the house when firemen arrived at 3:40 am, is believed to have started in the rear of the home, but cause has not been determined. St Lawrence County fire investigator, Timothy Bill, Heuvelton, and Potsdam policeman James Mason were to continue their investigation into the cause this morning.
Mr Regan, the sole occupant of the three-story building when the fire broke out, rented rooms to students, but all of them were away for the holiday break.
Although officials were thankful the students were away, as the tragedy might have been worse, First Asst. Chief Joseph P Gallagher said it is possible the fire might have been noticed sooner and Mr. Regan saved if the house had been fully occupied.
"Hindsight is great" he said.
When they arrived at the scene, firefighters suspected Mr Regan might have been unable to get out, and neighbors confirmed their suspicions he had not been seen outside the building.
Mr. Regan, whose bedroom was toward the back of the first floor, was found by Potsdam First Asst. Chief Joseph P Gallagher in the living room toward the middle of the house.
In his search through the burning building for Mr. Regan., Mr Gallagher suffered second-degree burns to his face, neck and right arm.
Potsdam fireman Jerry Andrews also suffered burns to his face. Both were treated and released at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.
Also treated in the emergency room at the hospital were Potsdam firemen Scott LaFay, who had a nail in his left hand, and Steve North who was struck in the eye by a limb.
The department was notified of the fire by both a neighbor and the Potsdam police department.
Most of the upper story tumbled into the first floor and investigators were planning to use either a backhoe or a front-end loader to sift through the rubble today in an effort to pinpoint the cause of the fire.
The funeral for Mr. Regan will be at 11 am Friday at the Seymour Funeral HOme. Burial will be in St Mary's Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, Norwood; a son, Joseph, Jr; a step-daughter, Mrs. Eva MacLeod and 10 grandchildren.
A daughter, Marian Podvin died before him
Born in Potsdam on June 10, 1902, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Regan, he retired as a machine operator at the Alcoa plant in Massena.
Wednesday, Dec 26, 1984
Potsdam Man, 82,
Dead after Blaze
Potsdam - An 82-year-old man died in an early morning Christmas Day fire which gutted his home at 76 Main St.
Two Potsdam firemen were burned trying to rescue Joseph D Regan from the burning building and two other Potsdam firefighters also were injured battling the blaze.
The fire, which had engulfed the house when firemen arrived at 3:40 am, is believed to have started in the rear of the home, but cause has not been determined. St Lawrence County fire investigator, Timothy Bill, Heuvelton, and Potsdam policeman James Mason were to continue their investigation into the cause this morning.
Mr Regan, the sole occupant of the three-story building when the fire broke out, rented rooms to students, but all of them were away for the holiday break.
Although officials were thankful the students were away, as the tragedy might have been worse, First Asst. Chief Joseph P Gallagher said it is possible the fire might have been noticed sooner and Mr. Regan saved if the house had been fully occupied.
"Hindsight is great" he said.
When they arrived at the scene, firefighters suspected Mr Regan might have been unable to get out, and neighbors confirmed their suspicions he had not been seen outside the building.
Mr. Regan, whose bedroom was toward the back of the first floor, was found by Potsdam First Asst. Chief Joseph P Gallagher in the living room toward the middle of the house.
In his search through the burning building for Mr. Regan., Mr Gallagher suffered second-degree burns to his face, neck and right arm.
Potsdam fireman Jerry Andrews also suffered burns to his face. Both were treated and released at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.
Also treated in the emergency room at the hospital were Potsdam firemen Scott LaFay, who had a nail in his left hand, and Steve North who was struck in the eye by a limb.
The department was notified of the fire by both a neighbor and the Potsdam police department.
Most of the upper story tumbled into the first floor and investigators were planning to use either a backhoe or a front-end loader to sift through the rubble today in an effort to pinpoint the cause of the fire.
The funeral for Mr. Regan will be at 11 am Friday at the Seymour Funeral HOme. Burial will be in St Mary's Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, Norwood; a son, Joseph, Jr; a step-daughter, Mrs. Eva MacLeod and 10 grandchildren.
A daughter, Marian Podvin died before him
Born in Potsdam on June 10, 1902, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Regan, he retired as a machine operator at the Alcoa plant in Massena.
Watertown Daily Times
Wednesday, Dec 26, 1984
Potsdam Man, 82,
Dead after Blaze
Potsdam - An 82-year-old man died in an early morning Christmas Day fire which gutted his home at 76 Main St.
Two Potsdam firemen were burned trying to rescue Joseph D Regan from the burning building and two other Potsdam firefighters also were injured battling the blaze.
The fire, which had engulfed the house when firemen arrived at 3:40 am, is believed to have started in the rear of the home, but cause has not been determined. St Lawrence County fire investigator, Timothy Bill, Heuvelton, and Potsdam policeman James Mason were to continue their investigation into the cause this morning.
Mr Regan, the sole occupant of the three-story building when the fire broke out, rented rooms to students, but all of them were away for the holiday break.
Although officials were thankful the students were away, as the tragedy might have been worse, First Asst. Chief Joseph P Gallagher said it is possible the fire might have been noticed sooner and Mr. Regan saved if the house had been fully occupied.
"Hindsight is great" he said.
When they arrived at the scene, firefighters suspected Mr Regan might have been unable to get out, and neighbors confirmed their suspicions he had not been seen outside the building.
Mr. Regan, whose bedroom was toward the back of the first floor, was found by Potsdam First Asst. Chief Joseph P Gallagher in the living room toward the middle of the house.
In his search through the burning building for Mr. Regan., Mr Gallagher suffered second-degree burns to his face, neck and right arm.
Potsdam fireman Jerry Andrews also suffered burns to his face. Both were treated and released at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.
Also treated in the emergency room at the hospital were Potsdam firemen Scott LaFay, who had a nail in his left hand, and Steve North who was struck in the eye by a limb.
The department was notified of the fire by both a neighbor and the Potsdam police department.
Most of the upper story tumbled into the first floor and investigators were planning to use either a backhoe or a front-end loader to sift through the rubble today in an effort to pinpoint the cause of the fire.
The funeral for Mr. Regan will be at 11 am Friday at the Seymour Funeral HOme. Burial will be in St Mary's Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, Norwood; a son, Joseph, Jr; a step-daughter, Mrs. Eva MacLeod and 10 grandchildren.
A daughter, Marian Podvin died before him
Born in Potsdam on June 10, 1902, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Regan, he retired as a machine operator at the Alcoa plant in Massena.
Wednesday, Dec 26, 1984
Potsdam Man, 82,
Dead after Blaze
Potsdam - An 82-year-old man died in an early morning Christmas Day fire which gutted his home at 76 Main St.
Two Potsdam firemen were burned trying to rescue Joseph D Regan from the burning building and two other Potsdam firefighters also were injured battling the blaze.
The fire, which had engulfed the house when firemen arrived at 3:40 am, is believed to have started in the rear of the home, but cause has not been determined. St Lawrence County fire investigator, Timothy Bill, Heuvelton, and Potsdam policeman James Mason were to continue their investigation into the cause this morning.
Mr Regan, the sole occupant of the three-story building when the fire broke out, rented rooms to students, but all of them were away for the holiday break.
Although officials were thankful the students were away, as the tragedy might have been worse, First Asst. Chief Joseph P Gallagher said it is possible the fire might have been noticed sooner and Mr. Regan saved if the house had been fully occupied.
"Hindsight is great" he said.
When they arrived at the scene, firefighters suspected Mr Regan might have been unable to get out, and neighbors confirmed their suspicions he had not been seen outside the building.
Mr. Regan, whose bedroom was toward the back of the first floor, was found by Potsdam First Asst. Chief Joseph P Gallagher in the living room toward the middle of the house.
In his search through the burning building for Mr. Regan., Mr Gallagher suffered second-degree burns to his face, neck and right arm.
Potsdam fireman Jerry Andrews also suffered burns to his face. Both were treated and released at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.
Also treated in the emergency room at the hospital were Potsdam firemen Scott LaFay, who had a nail in his left hand, and Steve North who was struck in the eye by a limb.
The department was notified of the fire by both a neighbor and the Potsdam police department.
Most of the upper story tumbled into the first floor and investigators were planning to use either a backhoe or a front-end loader to sift through the rubble today in an effort to pinpoint the cause of the fire.
The funeral for Mr. Regan will be at 11 am Friday at the Seymour Funeral HOme. Burial will be in St Mary's Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, Norwood; a son, Joseph, Jr; a step-daughter, Mrs. Eva MacLeod and 10 grandchildren.
A daughter, Marian Podvin died before him
Born in Potsdam on June 10, 1902, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Regan, he retired as a machine operator at the Alcoa plant in Massena.
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