Fire ravages Tupper Lake building

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An inferno rages in Tupper Lake early Wednesday morning. About 100 fire fighters fought the Lake St. fire that destroyed several businesses and apartments. (P-R Photo/Jack LaDuke)
An inferno rages in Tupper Lake early Wednesday morning. About 100 fire fighters fought the Lake St. fire that destroyed several businesses and apartments. (P-R Photo/Jack LaDuke)
An inferno rages above fire fighters in Tupper Lake early Wednesday morning. About 100 fire fighters fought the Lake St. fire that destroyed several businesses and apartments. (P-R Photo/Jack LaDuke)

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November 2, 2011

KIM SMITH DEDAM Staff Writer The Press Republican Wed Nov 02, 2011, 03:49 PM EDT

TUPPER LAKE — More than 70 firefighters responded to a huge fire that lit up the night in the Village of Tupper Lake early Wednesday.

The blaze erupted at 61 Lake St. about 1 a.m. in a structure that housed five apartments and four local business offices.

Firefighters from Franklin, Essex, St. Lawrence and Hamilton counties spent hours dousing flames.

Tupper Lake Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mark Picerno said that when they arrived shortly after the call came in, flame and smoke were already coming out of the building.

State Police and Tupper Lake Village Police were evacuating the two-story building.

“Fire got up in the attic and underneath the tin roof,” the chief said.

Firefighters concentrated also on saving property next door, which included a beauty salon and a storage area in back of the office/apartment complex.

The magnitude of the fire in the heart of the village business district prompted calls for reinforcement.

“We sent out a general alarm for five members from each department in Franklin County,” Picerno said.

CAUSE UNKNOWN

They fought the fire for hours, drawing from both the village hydrant and Raquette Pond nearby.

Fire officials and the Franklin County Cause and Origin Team are investigating what sparked the blaze.

“All we know is it started on the left-hand side of the building as you’re facing the building,” Picerno said.

The 1 a.m. call saw firefighters in service for more than 12 hours.

“We’re not back in service yet,” the chief said at 2:54 p.m. on Wednesday.

The building was destroyed by fire, but nearby properties were spared, except for water damage.

OFFICES DESTROYED

A local dentist, Dr. John Manne, owns the property. He could not be reached Wednesday for comment.

Tupper Lake Electric Supervisor Jim Moody said four of the five apartments were rented.

“And there were four businesses in the building that were occupied — Adirondack Kids Day Care, the CSEA (Civil Service Employees Association) Local 431 has an office in there. Donald Keniston had a contractor’s workshop downstairs, and Dr. Manne had his dental office there.

“There was one empty storefront, and it looks like one empty apartment.”

NO INJURIES

Moody said one of the families living in the building has a child who uses a wheelchair, and one other apartment was home to a developmentally disabled person living with a caregiver.

“As far as I know, they were able to get everybody out,” Moody said.

His grandchildren attended the day care and asked immediately about two cats who lived at the child-care center. But Moody didn’t know whether the pets were able to get out of the burning building.

EXCAVATOR USED

Moody said the structure is a complete loss.

“The first time I actually saw it was at 7:30 this morning. The whole center of the building was gone.”

By 9 a.m., the Village Department of Public Works had brought in an excavator to help firefighters finish getting the blaze out.

Lake Street wraps around the corner of the village business district and then turns into Demars Boulevard, which runs along the town waterfront.

DAY CARE MOVING

Village Code Officer Pete Edwards said fire investigators were at the fire site as dawn broke.

Adirondack Kids Daycare is owned by Joanne Hutchins and provided child care for 10 or more children.

“But the good news about the day care is they were already in the process of moving,” Edwards said. “We have a final inspection of their new place, and they may be in there next Monday.”

GRATEFUL

Residents were quick to thank Tupper Lake fire personnel for the all-out response.

On the Fire Department’s Facebook page, Julie Churco wrote simply: “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.”

Karen Demers spelled her sentiments out in greater detail: “Great job last nite to the men and women who risked there lives for the safety of others. People need to realize what a blessing you are and stop givin yas grief over little things.”

Email Kim Smith Dedam at:

kdedam@pressrepublican.com