2nd Alarm Fire in Pitcher Prompts Response From 12 Fire Departments

Around 11:15pm Thursday night, Cincinnatus Fire was dispatched to 372 Pitcher Springs Road in Pitcher for a reported chimney fire from Cortland County 9-1-1. Cincinnatus Fire says first arriving at the scene minutes from the time a call was made was a chief with the department who confirmed a working structure fire with flames coming from the side of the house. He also ensured everyone was safely out of the house.

Due to the breezy conditions, the fire grew rapidly and a 2nd alarm, all hands fire, was called. Firefighters were also told it would be an exterior attack on the fire only due to unsafe conditions inside. In a release, Cincinnatus Fire says when their first engine and tanker arrived, two propane tanks exploded and caused the fire to go through the roof of the home.

Tanker trucks were requested from several surrounding fire departments with the Homer Fire Departments FAST team already enroute to the scene. The intensity of the fire led it to spread to a second nearby structure and a vehicle along with a wooded area behind the house. Firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire at the second structure. Brush trucks from area fire departments also responded to the scene to extinguish the fire in the wooded area.

The fire was under control around 1 in the morning. No injuries were reported. Assisting the Cincinnatus Fire Department was Willet, McGraw, Marathon, Homer, Smithville, Norwich, Plymouth, DeRuyter, South Otselic, Pharsalia, and McDonough. The house was considered a total loss with it collapsing due to the fire.

NYSEG also provided assistance on scene due to downed wires.