A late morning fire Saturday left ruins in its wake.
Fire ripped through a shop, garage and residential property on state Route 9W in Athens as eight different first responder units were called in to lend a hand.
West Athens, Catskill Ambulance, Greene County Sheriff, State Police at Catskill, Athens Fire Company, Leeds Fire Company, Catskill Fire Department and Greene County Cause and Origin were dispatched at 10:37 a.m. Saturday in response to a 911 call from a neighbor that reported flames shooting from the complex.
According to West Athens-Lime Street Fire Chief John J. Farrell, winds pushed the flames across the property and live power lines prevented direct access to the fire.
Athens Resident Deirdre Canaday said she was one of the first people to come upon the fire which was just south of the Schoharie Turnpike intersection.
“I ran up to the house with a couple [of] people,” Canaday said, “but the house was entirely involved. No idea if anyone was home or not.”
Canaday, a retired firefighter, has had 10 plus years with fire service and she said she stood out on 9W and directed traffic until EMS and fire police could take over.
“There was a house close to it on a shared driveway that was threatened by the intensity of the flames,” Canaday added. “It appeared that no one was home.”
The Greene County Cause and Origin team is investigating.
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