Oneonta Fire Leaves

Family Of 5 Homeless

ONEONTA – An early morning fire today at a home on Oneida Street destroyed a mobile home and left a family of five homeless.

The fire broke out at the home, at 124 Oneida St., Lot 22, at 10:08 a.m, and was believed to have been caused by a space heater in Brett’s room.  “He’s always cold,” said his mother, Holly Wayman.  “The mattress was the first thing I saw on fire.”

The family rescue their two dogs where they were hiding in the bathroom and escaped the house without injury.  The Oneonta Fire Department responded within five minutes of the call, with mutual aid from West Oneonta and Otego Fire Departments.

The Red Cross is assisting the family, and donations may be made at Wayman’s Mercantile Shop in Otego.  “It was so fast,” said Holly.  “The kids ran out without shoes.”