The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal…

The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal fire in the Town of Westmoreland.

According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, deputies were called to the scene of a structure fire at 6924 Dix Road in the Town of Westmoreland at about 3:00 this morning. When deputies arrived they found the house was fully involved. Initial reports were that one person was still inside, and fire personnel were on the scene trying to make entry.

Four adults lived in the home. David Elliot, Sue Martin, and Phillip Becktoft, were able to escape. According to deputies, David Elliot, Martin, and Becktoft were asleep in their bedrooms when they were woken by the sounds of Ralph Elliot, who also lived in the house, yelling from the living room. The three came out of their rooms to a heavy smoke. They tried to get to Ralph but could not. The three escaped through a window. They went around the front of the house and broke a window, trying to get back into the house to save Ralph, but were driven back by the smoke and flames.

Ralph Elliot, 61 was found on the first floor, front of the house. He was removed and transported to the Onondaga County Medical Examiners’ Office where an autopsy will be performed.

Sheriff’s investigators are on the scene investigating the cause and origin of the fire. The initial investigation indicates that the fire started in the area of the home where the furnace and hot water tank were located, and does not appear to be suspicious.

Several fire departments were on the scene fighting the fire including Westmoreland, Stanwix Heights, Oriskany, Clark Mills, Verona, and Clinton. Central Oneida County Ambulance responded as well as the Red Cross.