Investigator says Shaw Rd. fire probe may take time

Charred remnants of house at 35 Shaw Drive. (Lebanon Voice/Harrison Thorp photo)

ROCHESTER - The city's fire investigator said it may be some time before an official cause is given for Tuesday's fire on Shaw Drive.

"This could take quite a while," said Rochester Deputy Fire Chief Peter Cutrer today. "It is an open and active investigation."

The Tuesday blaze destroyed the home at 35 Shaw Drive and claimed the lives of two family cats.

Owner Jody Keravich was home alone when the two-alarm blaze broke out around 10 a.m., and the neighbor, Anita Biehner, said the double garage doors were immediately blown out with flames quickly licking up the exterior walls.

She said Keravich frantically tried to get dogs out of the burning home and move his boat away from the flames.

The four family dogs all made it out, but two cats did not.

Keravich, meanwhile, received severe burns to his face and hands and was Medflighted to Massachusetts General Hospital, from which he was later released, a hospital spokesman said on Thursday.

Biehner said an explosion preceded the fire.

She said Keravich often tinkered with machinery and welded.

Firefighters had difficulty finding a usable hydrant and employed tankers to supply fire trucks from Rochester and several surrounding towns with water to battle the blaze.