On December 15, 2005, the Whitesboro Fire Departement was toned for a structure fire at 17 Mohawk Street in the Village.
First units found smoke from the attic area. Immediately Mutual Aid was requested from Yorkville Fire Department, Oriskany Fire Department & Maynard Fire Departments for manpower & RIT.
Upon entry the interior attack crews found heavy fire in the 1st floor stairwell and the stairs completely burned away, which hindered attack efforts.
The house, a 2 1/2 story wood frame was once a one family home converted to a two family residence. Being there were no second stairwell firefighter's efforts were diminished by heavy winds & freezing rain.
The incident command at that time ordered a defensive attack and crews used several 2 1/2" blitz lines, 1 3/4" attack lines, and a Ladder Company from Yorkville to gain control of the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but officials are looking into the basement area as the point of origin.
The residence was being rented by two families, one of whom belonged to the Whitesboro Fire Department, lost everything in the fire.
Whitesboro is located in Central New York, about 5 miles west of the City of Utica.
