Address: Vacant
Old Address: 14 Prospect Avenue
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Adirondack Daily Enterprise, February 2, 1996
Saranac Lake home destroyed by fire
By MATTHEW RUSSELL, Enterprise Staff Writer
SARANAC LAKE - At least one woman is homeless following an overnight blaze which destroyed a Prospect Avenue house. As many as three dogs may have perished in the fire, fire-fighters said.
The Saranac Lake police and fire departments responded to a fire call at 3:56 a.m. today at the 14 Prospect Ave home of Teresa Gowan, 33, and found the residence "fully involved" in flames. Police helped evacuate Gowan, who was then transported from the scene to the Adirondack Medical Center for treatment of smoke inhalation.
Other individuals may have been living in the house, but no other names were available, police said. It was not clear this morning if Gowan owned the home.
About 30 firefighters in five trucks responded to the scene, dousing the flames with water while Lake Placid firefighters stood by at the Saranac Lake fire station. Firefighters said a great deal of water was used, much of which ran downhill, flooding Prospect Avenue. The house was said to be a total loss. Some fire department members were still on the scene this morning as investigators examined the ruins to find the cause of the blaze which was not available at press time.
No injuries to firefighters were reported. Officials said as many as three dogs may have died in the fire, while one may have escaped in the inferno.
Gowan was treated and released from the hospital.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, October 25, 1996
Village judge gives Gowan house demolition deadline
By LARRY RULISON
Enterprise Staff Writer
SARANAC LAKE - If Theresa Gowan doesn't tear down her burnt-out house soon, the village is going to do it for her.
Gowan is the last of a group of property owners village officials has been after to demolish homes rendered hazards and eye sores by fires. Gowan's home at 14 Prospect Ave. burnt down in a February fire.
Village Justice Thomas R. Glover told Gowan in village; court Wednesday night that if she did not set a demolition date for tearing down her Prospect Avenue home by Nov. 6, he would order the village to condemn fhe building and tear it down.
It was Gowan's third appearance in court since the Village Board voted to have its codes enforcement officer take Gowan to court under the state fire prevention code. The judge has been fining Gowan $100 a day until she sets a demolition date, though he has not yet made her pay.
Gowan has not torn down the house because of dispute with her insurance company. She has asserted that her insurance company, North Country Insurance of Watertown is offering her less than her policy states.
She has, however, already received more than $50,000 in insurance money to cover personal belongings.
North Country Insurance officials will not comment on the matter.
"I'm not an emotional person, but this has made me emotionally exhausted," a visibly upset Gowan told Glover Wednesday.
The judge explained that he was simply upholding the law. State fire prevention codes require that unsafe buildings must be secured or demolished and vacated buildings must be secured after 60 days.
This summer, the Village Board, discussed the fate of three burnt-out buildings in the village after residents and board members complained about them at board meetings. Of the three property owners, Gowan was the only one that did not take action. Iii September the board decided to take legal action against Gowan. "It's not that we're taking Theresa Gowan and trying to make an example of her," Glover told Gowan in court.
In each of the two previous times Gowan was in court, the judge set deadlines for Gowan to return with a demolition date, fining her $100 a day as an incentive to cooperate. Gowan says she could proceed with demolition, but she fears if the house is torn down, she won't get her insurance money and wdn't be able to pay the demolition contractor.
"I don't want to set him (the contractor) up to do the job and then not get paid for the job," Gowan said in court.
The judge is giving Gowan until Nov. 6 to set a demolition date, if Gowari has not set a date by then, he will order the village to tear the building down. In the meanwhile, Glover ordered the village to hire an engineer to look into condemning, the building, a cost Gowan must pay. She would also have to pay the cost of demolition.
The judge also continued to fine Gowan $100 a day..By Nov. 6 she will owe the village $3,800.
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