DRYDEN, NY (607NewsNow) – The Dryden Fire Department is sharing more details about a fatal house fire.

Officials say strong winds accelerated the spread of the fire that claimed the lives of three people on April 1 at 321 Cortland Road.

Around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, firefighters were dispatched to a reported fire with possible occupants trapped inside. Crews arrived to find a heavily involved structure fire with strong winds pushing the flames throughout the structure.

After an aggressive initial interior attack and search, firefighters were forced to evacuate due to rapidly deteriorating conditions. Crews were unable to return to the interior for several hours. The victims, 31-year-old Katherine Gray, 30-year-old Christy Oralls, and 3-year-old Paisley Wood, were later located inside. Four dogs are also believed to have perished in the fire.

“This is a heartbreaking loss for our community,” said Dryden Fire Chief Pete Tyler. “Our thoughts are with the families affected.”

Tyler also expressed a deep gratitude to the agencies that responded to assist, and the support from the Dryden and surrounding communities.

The State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office are conducting a joint investigation into the cause and origin of the fire. More information will be released as it becomes available.

Mutual Aid Assistance and Support

Fire Departments

  • Freeville
  • McLean
  • Varna
  • Groton
  • Virgil
  • Cortlandville
  • Moravia
  • Locke
  • McGraw
  • Homer
  • Lansing
  • Tompkins County Airport
  • Hartford (back fill/standby)
  • Cayuga Heights (back fill/standby)
  • Genoa (back fill/standby)
  • Slaterville (back fill/standby)

State, County, Town, and City Agencies

  • New York State Department of Transportation
  • New York State Police
  • New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control
  • Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office
  • Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response (coordinators, EMS, CISM peer support)
  • Town of Dryden Highway Department
  • Dryden Ambulance
  • Bangs Ambulance