Sheriff releases ID of man who died in Waterport fire

Photos by Tom Rivers: Carlton firefighters, Andrew Niederhofer, left, and Evan London spray water on a fire Tuesday morning in Waterport.

WATERPORT – The man who died in a fire on Tuesday morning in Waterport has been identified as Franklin Miller, age 68.

He was located deceased inside a double-wind trailer. Fireifghters were dispatched to 1763 Waterport Rd. just before 9:30 a.m. after a neighbor reported smoke coming from the residence.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Carlton Volunteer Fire Company, multiple mutual aid fire departments and EMS responded to the scene.

Two Orleans County deputies, John Doyle and Ashleigh Stornelli, suffered minor injuries when they attempted  to enter the residence in an effort to rescue Miller. They broke windows and forced open a door but were unable to enter the residence due to heavy smoke and heat, said Sheriff Chris Bourke. They were treated at Medina Memorial Hospital.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and Orleans County fire investigators.

Neighbors say Miller was retired from doing maintenance work, including lawn mowing, at a nearby state park.

This is the second fatal fire in Orleans County in less than two weeks. David Greene, 68, was killed in a fire in Knowlesville on Oct. 22.