A Penn Yan grandmother and her grandson have both died after a house fire on Friday morning on Cornwell Street.
Police say the 11-year-old boy, who made the 9-1-1 call around 7:30 a.m. to report the fire at 149 Cornwell Street, died on Saturday at Upstate Medical in Syracuse. His grandmother, 78-year-old Patricia Stenz, passed away on Sunday.
When officers arrived at the scene on Friday, flames were coming from the northeast side of the house. Police attempted to get inside but were forced back by heavy fire and smoke. Firefighters entered the home and located the boy in a first-floor bedroom and Stenz on a bed nearby. Both were brought outside and taken by ambulance to Soldiers & Sailors Hospital before being flown to Syracuse for further treatment.
A dog inside the home did not survive.
Investigators determined the fire started in the mechanical area at the bottom of a refrigerator unit, near the wiring and compressor.
Fire crews from Benton, Himrod, and Dundee assisted Penn Yan firefighters at the scene.
Police said it appears that the grandson awoke to find the house on fire and attempted to alert his grandmother before being overcome by the smoke/fire. Chief Thomas Dunham added that everyone on scene did everything possible to save the victims, adding their thoughts are with the family during this difficult time.
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