Progress Report: NEW YORK

Oct. 1, 2014

SALAMANCA, NY, JULY 29, 2014 – A multiple-alarm fire destroyed the 110 year old historic Erie Railroad Depot in downtown Salamanca. The Salamanca Fire Department was dispatched at 2:16 P.M. and responded with a 1,500-gpm pumper and a 100-foot aerial platform with a 2,000-gpm pump and three firefighters under the command of Chief Nicholas Bocharski.

The 50-by-200-foot, two-story, ordinary construction depot had been vacant since the 1970s and was boarded up. Smoke was pushing from the eaves of the building as first-arriving firefighters attempted to make entry with a 1¾-inch attack line. Within moments of arrival, firefighters were ordered into defensive operations as flames broke through the roof. Off-duty city firefighters were recalled and mutual aid was requested from the Great Valley, Killbuck, Little Valley and Seneca Nation of Indians volunteer fire departments. Mutual aid pumpers relayed water to the scene through large-diameter hoselines supplying two engines and two aerial devices.

The fire was declared under control after 90 minutes, but Salamanca units did not leave the scene until midnight. Police arrested a 14-year-old, who faces charges of arson, criminal mischief, burglary and reckless endangerment.

Jay K. Bradish

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