Fire damages Wilmington motel

Local News

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE: There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.

Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.

Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.

We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:

There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.

Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.

Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)

Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”

Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.

Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.

Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.

In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.

Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.

We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.

comments powered by Disqus

March 3, 2009

<a href="mailto:kdedam@pressrepublican.com">By KIM SMITH DEDAM</a> The Press Republican Tue Mar 03, 2009, 05:14 PM EST

WILMINGTON — Three rooms in the Hungry Trout Resort were damaged when fire broke out about 10 p.m. Monday.

Several rooms in the 22-room complex were occupied when guests noticed smoke in the central annex of the motel, said owner Linda Bottcher, who was out of town with her husband, Jerry, at the time.

“The Fire Department was here in minutes and contained it to three rooms,” she said, commending their effort.

First Assistant Chief Randy Preston said the fire started in the basement of the central building on Route 86, not far from Whiteface Ski Center.

“The motel has three separate buildings, and when we arrived, we saw the center section, where they have the office, had heavy smoke conditions.”

Firefighters found the fire in the basement.

“Basement fire is extremely difficult to fight. There’s only one way in,” Preston said.

So they cut holes in the floor to gain access and contained the flames.

Single-digit temperatures and high winds proved challenging to the effort, which involved mutual aid from Lake Placid, Jay and Upper Jay fire departments, about 45 firefighters in all.

The fire has been ruled accidental by Essex County Cause and Origin Team, Preston said.

Bottcher said the motel portion of the resort sustained damage to water, heating and Internet infrastructure and is closed.

But the Hungry Trout Restaurant was not damaged at all and remains open.

The property is insured, and they will rebuild, Bottcher said.

“The rooms will be renovated in time to reopen for fishing season in May.

“The community in Wilmington has been amazing,” she added.

“We are going to be fine.”

E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at:

kdedam@pressrepublican.com