CORNWALL — A massive six-alarm fire which could be seen from almost 50 miles away gutted a giant industrial complex in Cornwall Sunday.
A think, black column of smoke rose far and heavy in the air of a below-freezing clear day. Fifteen fire companies and over 150 emergency firefighters responded to the complex where Cornwall Supervisor Kevin Quigley said there has been a history of code violations.
“In the last month there were issues with the sprinkler system and other code violations. It goes way back — years,” said Quigley.
Quigley said that some of the sprinklers in this fire had gone off but couldn’t speak to all of them.
Cornwall Fire Chief Pat Hines said the cause for the fire was under investigation as county fire investigators couldn’t enter the building yet.
According to Hines, firefighters experienced problems with water as soon as they arrived.
“A number of fire hydrants weren’t functioning on the site,” Hines said.
As of 7:30 p.m. Cornwall Fire Chief Pat Hines said the fire was contained to the original building which was a total loss. Large pockets were still burning as of nightfall. He said it could take up to two days to completely put. There were no injuries according to Hines.
Orange County Fire Coordinator John Horan said that fire investigators wouldn’t be able to get in to the building to find a cause until the fire was out. He said firefighters used a technique to “surround and drown” the fire to contain it.
The building was originally the Firth Carpet Mill built in the late 1800s. Later, according to Quigley, it was taken over by Majestic Weaving as a textile plant. It was then sold and divided into multi-purpose rental units.
Quigley said he had tried to contact Isaac Landau, the owner of the complex, but hadn’t reached him.
Steve Nestico of Matamoras said he was working outside the building getting rid of debris from the flooding when the fire began. Nestico said someone came out from the building and said there was a fire.
Going inside, Nestico said there was a fire in the ceiling of the first floor and embers falling onto the floor.
“It was small. If it wasn’t in the ceiling, we probably could have gotten it with a fire extinguisher,” said Nestico.
Candice Barnes, also from Matamoras, said the fire department arrived soon after Nestico called in the fire around 10:35 a.m. Nestico said it took around 45 minutes to get full water pressure to the hoses to fight the fire.
“I didn’t think it would take out the whole place like that,” said Barnes.
Firefighters’ were told to get out of the building around noon. Soaked from spraying down the fire for hours on end, they walked around in smoky acrid air caked with ice on their helmets and jackets.
Pieces of black ashen debris fell from the sky, causing patches of grass in the area to catch fire.
The series of connected buildings house nearly two dozen small businesses.
Hines said that firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to an upper complex that contained multiple small businesses by taking down a raised walkway that connected the two complexes. Firefighters used power saws and hand tool to collapse the walkway so the fire wouldn’t jump. Hines said the technique worked.
Giant puppets from a Broadway supplier and a drum set from a music store were only some of the goods business owners left on the sidewalk outside the complex at 2 Mill St. As the fire engulfed the lower complex, business owners began rushing items out of businesses on the top half.
Bill Diamond, who owns Bill Diamond Productions in the complex, said the lower complex near the Moodna had a few active businesses including a pillow factory, a candle maker and two cookie manufacturers. He said it was also used for storage.
Diamond said that so long as no one was hurt, that’s what mattered. None the less, the fire is still a hit to his business; he wasn’t sure he could open on Monday.
“There’s a lot of history in the building. It’s a shame. It’s going to hurt us,” said Diamond.
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