by Doug La Rocque with input from Sidewinder Photography
Shortly after 8 am on Friday morning, November 26, Stephentown firefighters were called to 4835 South Stephentown Road for a structure at Rainbow Ridge Farms. On arrival, Chief David Corlew reported the building to be fully involved and called for mutual aid from the neighboring Tsatsawassa and New Lebanon Fire companies. They also found 59-year-old Hanley Palmer in the driveway, badly burned. He was transported to the Albany Medical Center by the Stephentown Fire Department Ambulance with paramedic assistance. Mr. Palmer was later sent to the burn unit at the Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. As of press time, he was listed in critical condition. Another resident, 66-year-old Susan Freehofer, escaped without injury.
Getting water to the rural scene was challenging, with a number of other departments also dispatched for tankers. Water had to be trucked to the fire from the Kinderhook Creek. On several instances, firefighters had to wait for more water to arrive to continue battling the flames. The facts that the building was partly underground, had a metal roof and a large propane tank nearby also created problems. It took over an hour for firefighters to bring the blaze under control. No other injuries were reported. The cause is still listed as under investigation by the Rensselaer County Bureau of Public Safety but according to the New York State Police, is not believed to be criminal in nature.
Two Fires in Three Days
The Stephentown Fire Department was called out once again on Monday, November 29 to South Road for another fully involved structure fire. Mutual aid was received from Averill Park, Hoags Corners and once again the Tsatsawassa firefighters. State Police report no injuries and the cause here too remains under investigation.