A fire that apparently started in an electrical wire above the workshop heavily damaged the Cobleskill Radiator building in Cobleskill Friday morning.
The blaze in the tin-covered garage at 834 East Main Street was discovered by personnel from Tri Town Computers when they noticed smoke and flames coming from the roof of the radiator shop, according to Schoharie County Fire Coordinator Matt Brisley.
Tri Town employees called 911 at about 10:30am and also went over to alert the owner of the radiator shop, Bob Miller, and his crew.
Mr. Miller later told fire officials that employees heard some popping noises and then the lights went out, but they didn't smell any smoke or see any fire at that point. It was about then that the employees from Tri Town Computers arrived.
When firefighters arrived a few minutes later, there was heavy smoke pouring from the building and flames shooting out of the vents on the roof, according to Cobleskill Fire Chief Phil Slater.
The fire was stubborn one to fight, both Chief Slater and Mr. Brisley noted.
"It was hard to get to because of where it was," Chief Slater said. The tin on the roof and walls made the fire especially tough to fight.
"It held the heat in and made it harder to get to. The guys had to work harder to get to."
Despite the issues with the tin covering, firefighters made a good strop, the Chief added.
The fire, noted Mr. Brisley was confined to the attic and roof of the building.
Under the tin, he said, was a second shingle roof.
The building is not salvageable, according to Chief Slater. Though the fire was confined to the roof and attic, the rest of the building suffered heavy smoke and water damage.
The tools in the shop did get wet but should be salvageable, he added.
Firefighters were at the scene until about 5pm, during which time Main Street was closed off until about 1:30pm with the help of the Cobleskill Village Police and several fire police. Traffic was diverted through the Price Chopper and Wohl's plazas.
About 40 firefighters from Cobleskill, Richmondville, and Central Bridge fought the fire, along with members of the county and Worcester FAST teams, Chief Slater said.
No injuries were reported.
County fire investigators were assisted at the scene by investigators from the State Police Office of Fire Prevention and Control. It was determined that the cause of the fire was a failure in the electrical wiring above the workshop area, according to Mr. Brisley.
While firefighters were at the scene of the fire in Cobleskill, another call came in at about noon for another blaze at the corner of Route 145 and Empie Road in the Town of Seward for a garage fire at the Strobeck property, according to Chief Slater.
Firefighters from the Cobleskill, Central Bridge, Richmondville, and Sharon Springs fought that blaze, which was started by a wood stove.
The garage was fully involved when the firefighters arrived and the building was a total loss, Mr. Brisley said. The home next to the garage was saved with only minor siding damage.
Firefighters remained on the scene of that fire until about 2:30pm.