Thursday December 2,2004

WILLIAMSBURG - Firefighters dumped 800 gallons of water a minute on a fire that swept through a Mountain Street duplex Wednesday, displacing two families and injuring one firefighter.

David and Carol A. Demerski lived in one half of the destroyed duplex. Stephanie Rome lived in the other with an 8-year-old daughter.

Williamsburg Fire Chief Donald Lawton said Wednesday that the Demerskis were staying with area family members and that the Red Cross had been alerted to assist Rome.

Firefighters from six towns joined 15 Williamsburg firefighters to battle a blaze that had already consumed most of the first floor and garage in Rome's unit before neighbors called it in.

''This was a big fire,'' said Lawton. ''It's not going to be rebuildable.''

The state fire marshal was on the scene in the Haydenville section of town Wednesday night and is expected to return today to continue the investigation. Lawton said the cause of the blaze has not yet been determined.

Williamsburg firefighter Peter Banister was treated and released at Cooley Dickinson Hospital for injuries he received to his face and head. Banister and another firefighter were on the deck of the burning duplex when the building began to buckle. As they raced from the building, the hose line Banister had been holding came loose and struck him.

Deputy Fire Chief Eric Cerreta said that structural fire stops between the two units slowed the flames. However, the absence of fire stops in the attic and roof ultimately allowed the blaze to travel. ''It just blew over from the side that was really cooking,'' he said.

Firefighters were able to remove several personal articles such as photographs and furniture from the Demerskis' unit before fire, smoke and water made it impossible to enter the building.

Rome's side, which fire officials said the blaze apparently started, was a complete loss.

''I'm proud of our guys,'' said Lawton. ''These are the situations that we work hard and train hard for. They worked hard together, and they do the best job they can.''

Firefighters stayed on the scene in three-hour shifts through the night to ensure that high winds did not fan the remaining hot spots back into flames. The blaze did not rekindle, fire officials said today.

Sean Reagan can be reached at sreagan@gazettenet.com.