EDWARDS – One of eight occupants was slightly injured as a house in the village of Edwards was destroyed by fire last night.

The house, at 2173 State Rt. 58, was declared a total loss. Louis and Susan Dinino and their six children, ranging in age from 7 to 14 years old, now have to find somewhere else to live.

Edwards volunteers were called out at 9:26 p.m., followed shortly by departments from Fine, Gouverneur, Harrisville, Newton Falls, Star Lake, Russell, Hermon, DeGrasse, and Pyrites. Cranberry Lake Volunteer Fire Department was on stand-by.

The Edwards Volunteer Fire Department reported back in service at 3:01 a.m.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but St. Lawrence County Fire Investigation Team Deputy Chief Investigator Joe Lacks says they have narrowed down the starting point to one of the upstairs bedrooms.

Lacks said he is concerned about more fires as we approach the time of year when furnaces and woodstoves are fired up for the cold weather season – but he does not believe that was the cause in this fire.

The name of the property owner is unknown, as is whether or not it was covered by insurance.