Fire claims another building on Main Street

by Phyllis Larabie

At 4:10a.m. Tuesday, February 11 the Tupper Lake Fire department was dispatched to 35 Pine Street for a possible structure fire. The first firefighter on scene confirmed it to be a working structure fire. 

Chief Royce Cole immediately put out a request for a second alarm and called for mutual aid from Paul Smiths-Gabriels with an engine and manpower, Saranac Lake Fire with a tower truck and manpower, Piercefield Fire with engine and manpower and Long Lake fire engine with manpower to stand by at the Tupper Lake Station. He also requested Fire County Investigators to the scene. Not long after another request for man power for Bloomingdale to the scene and then a page for all county was then put out.

Bystanders on the scene told the Free Press the building was condemned but had two people living in the residence with a dog. They were all able to escape the building.

It was confirmed by Pete Edwards, Village Code Enforcer, that the building was actually located at 41 Main Street and was declared condemned and was posted. He also confirmed there was no electricity, water or sewer going to the building and was under foreclosure and to be taken over by the county in March of this year. All persons living in the building had been served notice to vacate.

All though the cause of the fire is still under investigation it is believed to have started by a Kerosene Heater that the residence had been using to heat the building.

The fire fighters did a great job of keeping the fire from damaging the nearby structures, just a few feet away from the burning building.

Tupper Lake Fire was assisted by Tupper Lake EMS, Tupper Lake Police Dept. and NY State Police.

Main Street and Depot Street were shut down.

Larkin’s donated coffee and sandwiches to the firefighters, EMS and police officers.

Red Cross was notified to assist the two individuals that had been staying at the residence.