Fire On Bovie Hill

by Bea Peterson
The Hoosick Fire Department responded to a call at the Walter Baker farm on Bovie Hill Road on Monday, April 11, at 6:26 pm. “It was an electrical fire in a bedroom,” said Hoosick Fire Chief Bill Rifenburgh. He said a fire extinguisher and water were used to try to put out the fire, but it was too smoky. When the residents’ attempts didn’t work, they closed the bedroom door and waited for the Fire Department to arrive. Two events, kept the fire damage to a minimum, said Rifenburgh. First and importantly they kept the bedroom door closed, containing the fire and second, the Hoosick firefighters were at the fire house for one of their monthly drills, so they were able to respond very quickly.
Chief Rifenburgh said they were able to quickly put the fire out. There was extensive damage to the second floor bedroom, he said, and water damage to the first floor kitchen, which was underneath the bedroom. By 10 pm the fire investigators and the department had completed their work.
The Pittstown Fire Department responded with Hoosick and Hoosick Falls, North Hoosick and West Hoosick were on standby in their quarters.
Chief Rifenburgh said, from Monday to Monday his Department responded to five fires.