Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup a fire destroyed a home in rural Medusa early April 16, leaving a family, including children with special needs, homeless. Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, Sr. is calling the tragedy “a sad display of what happens when seconds count and you can’t get a cellular connection. This mom, who cares for her disabled children, needed to throw clothes on and run to the end of the street to get a 911 call out,” Apple said. Volunteers from Medusa, Rensselaerville, Tri-Village and Oak-Hill Durham fire departments responded to the scene, but the house was a total loss. No injuries were reported, and the family made it out safely. The family is currently being housed in a hotel by the American Red Cross. The cause of the blaze is currently unknown. Apple said the Albany County Sheriff’s Office has been working with cell phone companies to expand coverage throughout the county and that these “major carriers should be made to do better.” He said, “It usually comes down to the density of the population. We have a tower not far from this fire and have been trying to get major carriers on it.” Beginning April 19, donations of clothing and toys are being collected for the family at the main office at Scott M. Ellis Elementary School in Greenville. Get more details at porcupinesoup [dot] com.