Gilboa Home Damaged by Fire

Above photo: Firefighters assess the status of a fire that heavily damaged a home on Bailey Road in the town of Gilboa on Tuesday, to make sure all the hot spots have been extinguished. 

STAMFORD – A Bailey Road home was heavily damaged Tuesday as fire broke out from a salamander being used to defrost frozen pipes. Stamford firefighters got the call at 10:45 a.m. for smoke and flames in a crawl space at 167 Bailey Road in the town of Gilboa.

Stamford Fire Chief Don VanEtten arrived quickly to find smoke curling around the eaves from an active fire in the crawl space which had extended into the main structure of the home.

"An A-frame is like having a balloon construction home. The fire started low and by the time we arrived, it had advanced up high and was starting to burn through the inside walls," said VanEtten. "We didn't use a lot of water on the fire, but the home suffered extensive fire, smoke and water damage."

The home is owned by Don Fullington, according to the chief. He and his daughter, two cats and two dogs all got out safely. 

VanEtten called for Hobart, GrandGorge and Jefferson firefighters to respond with mutual aid with pumpers, tankers and manpower. A water supply was established at nearby Mayham's Pond. In all, at least 10 departments responded to mutual aid or  were on standby;  including Jefferson, Grand Gorge, Hobart, Roxbury, Prattsville, Conesville, Bloomville, Halcottsville, South Kortright, Summit, Delhi and Margaretville. Members of the Schoharie County FIVES team were on scene along with Schoharie County Fire Coordinators and Headwaters EMS. There were 50 firefighters at the scene.

VanEtten said Stamford had just received a rescue call for the department's Argo. He had been enroute to hook up the trailer to respond when the fire call went out. Assistant Chief Joe Hornbeck responded to the Argo to assist Schoharie County EMS with a call on Cape Horn Road.

"I was already enroute to the station when we got the fire call," said VanEtten. "So I diverted to the fire and was on the scene within five to eight minutes."

He said the fire apparatus was not far behind. One truck was stuck for a time, but was easily extricated.

The fire was stubborn and firefighters had to access  the fire by cutting through the roof and interior walls.

The Red Cross was called to assist the family. "The home is not a total loss, but it will require a lot of repair," said VanEtten.

Stamford firefighters were back in service at 3:30 p.m.. VanEtten said the department has responded to five structure fires over the first six weeks of the new year. The department responded to a total of 9 structure fires last year. 

Bovina firefighter Josh Choquette and Grand Gorge firefighter Brady Picket use saws to get to the final hot spots at a structure fire on Bailey Road in the town of Gilboa on Tuesday. Several departments responded to mutual aid. The structure is heavily damaged by fire, smoke and water.