Comfort Inn owner plans to rebuild

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Firefighters respond to a rekindle Sunday at Plattsburgh's Comfort Inn. (Staff Photo/Dan Heath)

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November 16, 2008

Anonymous The Press Republican Sun Nov 16, 2008, 06:08 PM EST

PLATTSBURGH — The owner of the Comfort Inn vowed to rebuild the complex better than ever as he examined the damage Sunday morning.

Terry Meron, co-owner of the property with Jim Murray, said he has both property coverage and business-disruption coverage on the numerous businesses at the entrance to Consumer Square.

“We do have adequate coverage. We are going to meet with our insurance agents tomorrow (Monday) morning,” Meron said. “We will help protect as many employees as possible.”

About 125 full- and part-time employees worked at Comfort Inn and Suites, Perkins Restaurant and Bakery, Legends Sports Bar and Brew Pub and Court Club health club.

The complex suffered extensive fire damage after fire broke out around noon Saturday. Perkins, Legends, Court Club and the Comfort Inn ballroom and lobby area were destroyed.

Meron said it appears the fire started in the pool and sauna area of the health club, although firefighters and fire investigators did not confirm that. Comfort Inn Manager Kevin Rock then fought the fire in the sauna area until he was dragged out by firefighters, Meron said.

District 3 firefighters returned to the Comfort Inn to extinguish a small rekindle Sunday. They had returned to the station at about 9:30 a.m. and were called back at about 10:35 a.m.

The crew quickly extinguished the rekindle, which was limited to a 2-foot section where smoldering material had fallen behind some insulation.

Clinton County Emergency Services Director Eric Day said firefighters were able to save two southern wings of the hotel.

“The crews were able to make a stand at a firewall,” he said.

New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code requires fire separation walls in a structure like the Comfort Inn, which is mainly wood construction. Day said that incorporates non-combustible materials to prevent a fire from spreading from one part of a large structure to others.

He said every department in Clinton County, and even some for Essex County and Canada were involved in fighting the fire or on standby at area fire stations.

E-mail Dan Heath at:

dheath@pressrepublican.com