RUSSELL – A house at 27 West Main Street in Russell was engulfed in flames at 8 p.m. Thursday evening. Fire departments from Russell, Chester, Huntington and Westfield were on the scene, along with the Hilltown Community Ambulance and the State Police. Route 20 was closed due to fire hoses across the road, and cars were being diverted to Carrington Road.
According to neighbors, Bridget Baker, 35, who lives in the home, escaped unharmed with her boyfriend and called 911 from the Russell Package store on the corner of West Main Street and Route 20.
By 10 p.m. the fire was out, according to Trooper McClintock at the Russell State Police barracks, although firefighters were still on the scene, and Route 20 had been reopened to one lane of traffic. McClintock said the house was believed to be a total loss.
