CANTON – Canton Fire was dispatched at 9:23 p.m. Sunday night to 2177 SH 68 for a reported structure fire with exposures. Assistant Chief Shawn McGregor was enroute immediately. Two minutes later McGregor arrived, established command, confirmed a working garage fire with the house as an exposure, and requested activation of the Tanker Task Force for that zone. Engine 7 (B. Johnson) was enroute at 9:27 p.m., according to Canton Fire Chief Robert Crowe's report on the department's website.

Two firefighters received minor injuries with one being transported to Canton-Potsdam Hospital by Canton Rescue Squad for evaluation, the chiefh noted.

Crowe arrived on scene at 9:32 p.m. and assumed command of the incident with McGregor moving to operations. As Engine 7 was arriving the fire was beginning to extend to the residence, which was less than 10 feet from the heavily involved garage.

Chief McGregor directed the initial line to the hose to prevent any further spread with the second line going to knock down the fire. Engine 7 set up a porta tank for water shuttle operations. Tanker 20 (B. McCluskey) arrived and dropped its first load of water. Engine 8 (S.Cary) and Rescue 1 (R.Grandaw) arrived shortly thereafter with Engine 6 (E.Johnson) going to fill tankers at the hydrant at Price Chopper, said Crowe.

The Tanker Task Force requested mutual aid from Pierrepont Fire, Potsdam Fire, West Potsdam Fire, Pyrites Fire, and Russell Fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the St. Lawrence County Fire investigation Team. Canton Fire had 23 members respond and all Canton Fire units were back in service at 1:42 a.m.There was mutual aid from Potsdam, West Potsdam, Pyrites, Pierrepont, Russell, Canton Rescue, Canton Police, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s deputies, and National Grid.