WESTERLO — Three residents had smoke inhalation, burns, and their home demolished by a raging fire on Creamery Road Monday.

The damage, said Westerlo Fire Chief Kevin Flensted was in part due to the delay in getting crews to the fire since the residents had been asleep and then left to a neighbor’s house before calling 9-1-1. The well-built home of  about 2400 square feet was difficult to access, he said, and had a metal roof and spray foam insulation that contained the heat inside. Flensted also said the insulation became extremely flammable and toxic once it caught fire.

In the basement, said Flensted, one resident ran her candle and soap-making business, Ladybug Soap, which contained many flammable materials. The cause is still under investigation.

The fire company arrived on scene sometime before 2 a.m., said Flensted, when they found over half the house ablaze. The crew managed to knock the fire back after spraying it with about 3,000 gallons of water, but was unable to find another water source after running out, said Flensted. Six tankers from departments out of Greenville, Freehold, Medusa, Rensselaerville, and East Durham were brought in to control the flames.

Crews left the scene at 1:40 p.m., said Flensted; an excavator was brought in to dig through the rubble.

According to the Albany County Assessment rolls, the three parcels located at 42 Creamery Road are owned by David and Lee-Yin Lewis, and include two residential parcels and a parcel of 19 acres of vacant land. The total value of the three parcels is $403,061 full market value and $3,950 taxable value.