ST.
L AWRENCE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
FIRE INVESTIGATION TEAM
ORIGIN AND CAUSE REPORT
Incident Address: 1734 NY-68, Canton, NY 13617, USA Other
Case Number: 24-2952
Investigated and Documented By:
Investigator Zachary Cole
Fire Investigation Team ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
48 Court Street FIRE INVESTIGATION TEAM
Canton, NY 13617
Office: (315) 379-2240 ORIGIN AND CAUSE REPORT
Contents
1. RECEIPT OF ASSIGNMENT ..........................................................................................................3
2. INCIDENT SYNOPSIS......................................................................................................................3
3. SAFETY ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................. 4
4. WEATHER INFORMATION ............................................................................................................ 4
5. STRUCTURE DETAILS................................................................................................................... 4
5.1 EXPOSURES--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
6. PHOTOGRAPHY/ VIDEO SURVEILLANCE.................................................................................5
6.1 PHOTOGRAPHY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
6.2 VIDEO SURVEILLANCE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
7. UTILITIES ...........................................................................................................................................5
7.1 ELECTRICAL MAIN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
7.2 ELECTRICAL SUBPANEL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
7.3 GAS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
7.4 WATER --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
8. EXTERIOR EXAMINATION .............................................................................................................6
9. BUILDING SYSTEMS .......................................................................................................................7
9.1 ALARM SYSTEM----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7
9.2 SMOKE ALARMS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7
10. INTERIOR EXAMINATION ............................................................................................................7
11. AREA(S) OF FIRE ORIGIN ...........................................................................................................8
12. DE-LAYERING/RECONSTRUCTION ..........................................................................................8
12.1 De-layering Process ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8
12.2 Reconstruction Process -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
13. HEAT/IGNITION AND FUEL SOURCES IDENTIFIED / CONFIRMED IN AREA OF ORIGIN
..................................................................................................................................................................9
14. POINT(S) OF FIRE ORIGIN ........................................................................................................ 10
15. EVIDENCE COLLECTED ............................................................................................................ 10
16. IGNITION SEQUENCE / HYPOTHESIS DEVELOPMENT AND TESTED.......................... 10
17. ALL PARTICIPATING INVESTIGATORS ................................................................................. 10
18. FIRE CAUSE CLASSIFICATION .................................................................................................11
Primary Investigator:
Case #: 24-2952 Date of Fire: 10/24/2024
Zachary Cole
Classification: Accidental Page: 2 of 11
Fire Investigation Team ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
48 Court Street FIRE INVESTIGATION TEAM
Canton, NY 13617
Office: (315) 379-2240 ORIGIN AND CAUSE REPORT
1. RECEIPT OF ASSIGNMENT
A fire investigation response was initiated after receiving a request from the Canton Fire Chief Shawn
McGregor. Zachary Cole and Stephen Davis responded to the incident address. Upon arrival, Fire
investigators checked in with Command to obtain a briefing and conduct a cursory scene exam, to determine
the extent of the investigation. Zachary Cole conducted the origin and cause investigation as the primary
investigator, while Stephen Davis assisted.
The fire scene examination was conducted using the Scientific Methodology, the basic method of fire
investigation, as well as a Systematic Approach to determine the origin and cause of the fire. The approach
and method used have been subjected to peer review by the consensus committee of the 2024 edition of
NFPA 921; “A Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigation”, as well as the 2022 edition NFPA 1033;
“Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigators”.
2. INCIDENT SYNOPSIS
On 10/24/2024 at approximately 0057 hours the Canton Fire Department responded to a reported structure
fire located at 1734 NY-68, Canton, NY 13617. Fire crews arrived on scene and found a 1 story, dog kennel
with fire involvement. The structure housed approximately 44 dogs. Fire crews extinguished the fire with on-
scene resources. Fire investigators were then requested to the scene to assist with fire cause
determination. Fire investigators arrived and after a thorough scene exam and witness interviews, fire
investigators classified the fire as accidental. Analysis of all the evidence and information revealed the area
of origin was located within the structure. The conclusion of this fire event was the fire was initiated by
an operating kerosene heater as the heat source.
Primary Investigator:
Case #: 24-2952 Date of Fire: 10/24/2024
Zachary Cole
Classification: Accidental Page: 3 of 11
Fire Investigation Team ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
48 Court Street FIRE INVESTIGATION TEAM
Canton, NY 13617
Office: (315) 379-2240 ORIGIN AND CAUSE REPORT
3. SAFETY ASSESSMENT
Upon arriving to the fire event address, fire investigators checked in with command to verify the scene was
safe to enter. After a 360-degree assessment of the fire scene, General fire scene dangers were observed
to be the hazards present and station uniform/coveralls and boots was deemed appropriate for the
investigation.
4. WEATHER INFORMATION
SOURCE OF INFORMATION: Weather Underground
DATE AND TIME OF DATA COLLECTION: 10/24/2024 at 0057 hours
TEMPERATURE: 46 °F
HUMIDITY:80 %
WIND DIRECTION: NNW
WIND SPEED: 12 MPH
SKIES: Cloudy
5. STRUCTURE DETAILS
The involved structure was a Type V-Wood Frame 1 story, dog kennel. The structure was
approximately 35 feet wide and 65 feet in length with an estimated total square footage of 2275. The roof
was gable styled with roofing material consisting of metal standing seam. The exterior siding was made
of vinyl/aluminum siding material and the foundation consisted of concrete slab. The structure is owned by
Stiles and Debbra Bridges Canton NY. The structure is leased by No Dogs Left Behind under the operation
of Jeffrey S. Beri Canton NY.
5.1 EXPOSURES
No exposure damage was found related to this fire event, i.e., fencing, vehicles or neighboring structure
damage.
Primary Investigator:
Case #: 24-2952 Date of Fire: 10/24/2024
Zachary Cole
Classification: Accidental Page: 4 of 11
Fire Investigation Team ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
48 Court Street FIRE INVESTIGATION TEAM
Canton, NY 13617
Office: (315) 379-2240 ORIGIN AND CAUSE REPORT
6. PHOTOGRAPHY/ VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
6.1 PHOTOGRAPHY
During the origin and cause examination, digital photographs were taken to document the investigation and
findings. The photographs taken are a true and accurate representation of the relevant facts gathered
throughout the investigation. 28 photographs were taken in all.
The following Investigator(s) are responsible for the photography documentation:
Zachary Cole
6.2 VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
D-Side outside alleyway, mounted on A-Side facing C-Side. Which was obtained from a link of the Ring
camera footage. Send via e-mail from Debbra Bridges on 11/14/2024.
7. UTILITIES
7.1 ELECTRICAL MAIN
The electrical service (underground single-phase) for this structure was in place and the service
was energized at the time of the fire event. The exterior breaker panel was found to have Aluminum wire
branch circuits with double pole breaker(s) and single pole breaker(s). This panel was unaffected by the fire
and showed no signs of fire damage.
7.2 ELECTRICAL SUBPANEL
The interior sub panel was in the inside the a-side wall to the left of the door and was found to have wire
branch circuits with double pole breakers and single pole breakers. The sub panel was unaffected by the fire
and showed no signs of fire damage.
Primary Investigator:
Case #: 24-2952 Date of Fire: 10/24/2024
Zachary Cole
Classification: Accidental Page: 5 of 11
Fire Investigation Team ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
48 Court Street FIRE INVESTIGATION TEAM
Canton, NY 13617
Office: (315) 379-2240 ORIGIN AND CAUSE REPORT
7.3 GAS
No gas service was provided to the structure.
7.4 WATER
There was no water service to the fire event address.
8. EXTERIOR EXAMINATION
The scene examination began from the address side of the structure and worked in a clockwise direction
documenting the exterior of the structure. Below is the documentation of the structure by cardinal direction:
Alpha - Showed signs of fire damage.
Bravo - The middle section of the outside wall was consumed, the rest had minimal damage.
Charlie - Wall showed fire damage.
Delta - Kennel walls were totally consumed.
Roof - The main structure had signs of fire damage; kennel roof was totally consumed.
This concludes the exterior examination. At this point of the fire scene examination, the determination was
made the fire progression moved in the direction from the interior of the structure to the exterior areas.
Primary Investigator:
Case #: 24-2952 Date of Fire: 10/24/2024
Zachary Cole
Classification: Accidental Page: 6 of 11
Fire Investigation Team ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
48 Court Street FIRE INVESTIGATION TEAM
Canton, NY 13617
Office: (315) 379-2240 ORIGIN AND CAUSE REPORT
9. BUILDING SYSTEMS
Interior compartments were examined to locate fire, smoke detection systems/components and surveillance
cameras that were installed prior to the fire event. The following was observed and described:
9.1 ALARM SYSTEM
There was no onsite alarm system found during the examination.
9.2 SMOKE ALARMS
No smoke alarms were found.
10. INTERIOR EXAMINATION
Entrance to the interior of structure was made through the front entrance door located on the alpha side of
the structure. At this point of the exam, no signs of forcible entry were observed.
Utilizing a systematic approach working at the areas of least damage and moving to the area of greatest fire
damage, the determination has been made the vet room, entryway, and kitchen area(s) to be non-area(s) of
origin and are considered exposure room(s) within the structure. The exposure room(s) revealed a
movement and intensity pattern created by convective, radiant and direct flame impingement producing
carbon particles (smoke staining). These patterns indicated the fire traveled from the area of origin to the
area(s) identified as an exposure area.
Significant finding observed and/or revealed during the interior examination/investigation:
Kennel, most combustible materials were consumed
Kerosene Salamander and fan in the kennel on the D-side.
Primary Investigator:
Case #: 24-2952 Date of Fire: 10/24/2024
Zachary Cole
Classification: Accidental Page: 7 of 11
Fire Investigation Team ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
48 Court Street FIRE INVESTIGATION TEAM
Canton, NY 13617
Office: (315) 379-2240 ORIGIN AND CAUSE REPORT
11. AREA(S) OF FIRE ORIGIN
Working systematically from the least burned to the most burned areas around the structure, the area of
origin was found in the d-side outside alleyway.
The fire, heat and smoke patterns from within this area indicated the fire had reached the fully developed
stage of fire development.
The following is a detailed description of the area of origin:
Covered ally with concrete floor. With individual kennels.
12. DE-LAYERING/RECONSTRUCTION
12.1 DE-LAYERING PROCESS
A delayering process was not conducted within the area of origin.
Primary Investigator:
Case #: 24-2952 Date of Fire: 10/24/2024
Zachary Cole
Classification: Accidental Page: 8 of 11
Fire Investigation Team ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
48 Court Street FIRE INVESTIGATION TEAM
Canton, NY 13617
Office: (315) 379-2240 ORIGIN AND CAUSE REPORT
12.2 RECONSTRUCTION PROCESS
The area of origin was reconstructed. This is the process of recreating the physical scene during fire scene
analysis investigation and or through the removal of debris and the placement of contents or structural
elements in their pre-fire positions.
13. HEAT/IGNITION AND FUEL SOURCES IDENTIFIED /
CONFIRMED IN AREA OF ORIGIN
Accidental Ignition Sources (Smoking Activity and or Presence of an Open Flame)
During the investigation, accidental ignition sources such as improper discarded smoking material and
candles were searched for. The following was revealed during the examination:
No evidence of improperly discarded smoking material was found within the area of origin.
No evidence of candles or any device/item capable of producing or sustaining an open flame was found
within the area of origin.
2 heat source(s) within the area of origin have been identified:
Kerosene salamander heater and a fan
Unable to Eliminate
After examination of the area, the following were unable to be ruled out:
Kerosene salamander heater and fan
During the on-site examination, identification of various available fuels within the area of origin were found.
The available fuels within the area of origin provided sufficient evidence that supported the determination
regarding the first fuel ignited. The first fuel ignited has been determined to be plastic housing of fan. Which
was placed less than 1 foot directly in front of the operating kerosene salamander heater. That was placed
there between 10:29AM and 10:47AM 10/23/24. According to Ring video footage.
Primary Investigator:
Case #: 24-2952 Date of Fire: 10/24/2024
Zachary Cole
Classification: Accidental Page: 9 of 11
Fire Investigation Team ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
48 Court Street FIRE INVESTIGATION TEAM
Canton, NY 13617
Office: (315) 379-2240 ORIGIN AND CAUSE REPORT
14. POINT(S) OF FIRE ORIGIN
Point of Origin - D-side alley in the kennel
Competent Heat Source – Kerosene Salamander Heater/ Fan
First Material Ignited - Plastic housing of fan
15. EVIDENCE COLLECTED
Video footage of the ignition was obtained.
16. IGNITION SEQUENCE / HYPOTHESIS DEVELOPMENT AND
TESTED
The ambient temperature dropped enough for the kerosene heater to turn on, then igniting the plastic housing
on the fan that was directly in front of the heater.
17. ALL PARTICIPATING INVESTIGATORS
Zachary Cole
Stephen Davis
Primary Investigator:
Case #: 24-2952 Date of Fire: 10/24/2024
Zachary Cole
Classification: Accidental Page: 10 of 11
Fire Investigation Team ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
48 Court Street FIRE INVESTIGATION TEAM
Canton, NY 13617
Office: (315) 379-2240 ORIGIN AND CAUSE REPORT
18. FIRE CAUSE CLASSIFICATION
The fire has been classified as accidental due to a kerosene salamander heater/fan being introduced to
plastic housing of fan.
This report has been reviewed for conformance with accepted and tested scene processing methodology.
Additionally, it has been reviewed for both form and content and was found to be in agreement with or exceed
the recommendations of published materials and standards relating to the reporting of scientific information
outlined in publications such as those published by the NFPA and ASTM.
The data contained in this investigation is true and accurate based on the information available at the time
it was written. Findings, opinions and conclusions may change if additional data collected is discovered after
this report was authored.
Should additional data become available at a later date, the St Lawrence County Office of Emergency
Services Bureau of Fire – Fire Investigation Team (SLCFIT) reserves the right to evaluate new information
and adjust stated opinions as needed or dictated by industry standards and guidelines such as NFPA 921
or ASTM standards.
Respectfully Submitted,
Zachary Cole, NY-CFI
St. Lawrence County Office of Emergency Services
Bureau of Fire – Fire Investigation Team (SLCFIT)
Primary Investigator:
Case #: 24-2952 Date of Fire: 10/24/2024
Zachary Cole
Classification: Accidental Page: 11 of 11
