Glasco Firehouse Fire

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Daily Freeman Article

07/23/2007

Blaze guts firehouse

By Donna Cafaldo , Correspondent

Firefighters work at the scene of a Sunday morning blaze that gutted the two-story section of the Glasco Firehouse.

GLASCO - Fire Sunday morning gutted the rear two-story section of the Glasco Firehouse causing what was preliminarily estimated to be more than $500,000 in damage to two kitchen facilities, the banquet room, recreation room and fire company.

On Saturday night, the fire company had wrapped up its two-day annual bazaar and fireworks show and the last person had left the facility around 3 a.m. Sunday morning, Gallo said.

The Ulster County Fire Investigation Unit was on the scene Sunday trying to determine the fire's origin.

Initially Gallo said he suspected one of the ovens might have accidentally been left on, but by late Sunday afternoon fire investigators were focusing their attention on an area between the ceiling and the second floor. Gallo said the fire appears to have been accidental and was possibly electrical in nature, although a final report would not available until today.

According to Gallo, the firehouse's automatic alarm went off initially as a single alarm, but the blaze quickly turned into a two-alarm fire.

Gallo said he received "massive support" with approximately 75 firefighters responding from not only the Glasco Fire Co., but also the Mount Marion, Saugerties and Ulster Hose departments. The Glasco Fire Co. has 38 active members, Gallo said.

Washington Hook and Ladder from Saugerties used its ladder truck to reach the second-story roof where flames had also broken through.

Gallo said the early morning blaze was a "tough loss" given what a great night the fire company had the night before. Gallo said it was one the best bazaars ever.

"This just really puts a damper on things," Gallo said.

He said proceeds from the bazaar were not in the firehouse when the fire broke out.

Gallo said a preliminary estimate on damage is "at least a half million dollars if not more."

As soon as the still-smoldering building was cleared so firefighters could go inside and salvage operations got under way, Gallo said things were "not looking good."

Long-faced Glasco firefighters sifted through the charred interior and carried out burned file cabinets, chairs, tables and desks. Firefighters also began loading pickup trucks with important memorabilia from the firehouse including trophies and photos that sustained smoke and water damage.

Glasco Firefighter Brian Pettit proudly carried out one of the most important pieces of the fire company's history - "Charlie Mulford," a 4-foot-tall statue that once stood on the peak of the old Mulford Firehouse, the predecessor to the Glasco Fire Co.

"It's good we at least we got old Charlie out," Pettit told a group of his fellow firefighters who had gathered around as the soot-faced and slightly melted statue was brought out. It has been a fixture at the new Glasco firehouse since it was built in the 1970s. The rear addition that burned was built in the 1980s.

Neighboring and area businesses including Gisianno's, Price Chopper, Hannaford and Lox of Bagels provided cases of water and food for firefighters who were still on the scene late Sunday afternoon.

©Daily Freeman 2007