Nine Fire Companies Fought The Blaze
by Bea Peterson
At 1:22 on Sunday afternoon, December 28, the Hoosick Falls Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at 7 Second Street, the home of Aaron and Tracy Lawrence. According to recently elected Fire Chief Jonathan Coon, HFFD Second Assistant Chief Carl Coon was on the scene within seconds of the alarm. He called in a working fire and requested second alarm assignment, which brought in additional units. Jon Coon, then First Assistant Chief, reported two structures involved and established command. Mutual aid Departments included Hoosick, North Hoosick, West Hoosick, Buskirk, Pittstown, White Creek, Cambridge, Johnsonville’s Fast Team and the Town of Hoosick, Bennington and Pittstown Rescue Squads.
The house was fully engulfed and the fire spread to 5 Second St., owned by Paul Kovage. According to Coon that house sustained smoke, heat and water damage. The fire was contained to the attic area, he said. The two family house at 9 and 11 Second Street, owned by Thomas Heaney, Coon said, suffered a melted meter and phone box, but otherwise, very little heat damage, though the siding was scorched. Coon reported that two vehicles owned by the Lawrences were destroyed by the fire. “The building and vehicles are a total loss.” A dog and two cats died in the fire. The house at 9 and 11 Second Street received smoke damage and one occupant suffered smoke inhalation and spent the night in the hospital.
Coon said the fire was under control within an hour. “We had difficulties at first due to the fact there were live power wires arcing and sparking. This hampered our efforts to get in close range with our fire trucks.” The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
According to Coon the new fire truck worked out very well. “We were able to use foam which put out the fire quickly and efficiently. We ended up using 29 gallons of class A foam and 7,900 gallons of water through our new truck.” Coon added, “I would like to thank all the Departments and people who were involved in the incident. They all did a fantastic job given the circumstances we faced that afternoon.”
Busy Holiday Season
The Hoosick Falls Fire Department responded to 17 alarms from Thanksgiving to New Year. The alarms ranged from floods to pump outs, CO alarms, LP gas leak, and structure fires.