Part of the barn roof at 5115 E. River Rd., Nichols, N.Y. lies in the road after a fire destroyed the structure. Firefighters were still extinguishing the last embers of the barn fire as several brush fires broke out on a nearby island in the Susquehanna River on April 2, 2015.
Apparatus from at least eight companies and Tioga County Fire Investigation lined East River Road in Nichols during a barn fire on April 2, 2015.
Firefighters are cared for behind an ambulance during a barn fire on April 2, 2015. The fire at 5115 E. River Rd., Nichols, N.Y, was fought for over four hours, and spread to a nearby island in the Susquehanna River.
While fire investigators search for clues on the right, firefighters wet the remains of a barn at 5115 E. River Rd., Nichols, N.Y. on April 2, 2015. A crane on loan from FS Lopke Contracting is being used to turn over the debris while it is being soaked.
A crane on loan from FS Lopke Contracting broke apart the remains of a barn at 5115 E. River Rd., Nichols, N.Y. during a fire on April 2, 2015. Firefighters are wetting the site down while the crane works.
A crane on loan from FS Lopke Contracting broke apart the remains of a barn at 5115 E. River Rd., Nichols, N.Y. during a fire on April 2, 2015. Firefighters are wetting the site down while the crane works. (Photos by Rick Stilson)
Pictured are horses from the barn destroyed by fire at 5115 E. River Rd. in Nichols, N.Y. on April 2, 2015. The horses were out to pasture when the fire struck, destroying the barn. Other horses were transported away from the scene.
A devastating fire tore through the barn at 5115 East River Rd., Nichols on Thursday, April 2, 2015. The initial call came in at approximately 2:40 p.m., according to Nichols Fire Chief Robert Miner. For a quarter mile, apparatus from at least eight fire companies from New York and Pennsylvania lined the dead end road which is the only access to the site.
When the Nichols Fire Department initially arrived on scene, Miner said the building was already half involved. Power lines leading to the roof of the barn were arcing. A quick search of the barn for people or animals showed the barn to be unoccupied, but also let firefighters know that the fire had already spread to the hayloft on the second floor. Hay and feed for several horses was stored in the hayloft, Miner said. Firefighters then closed the doors to help starve the fire of oxygen, but it was for naught. The large barn would collapse from the fire, destroying farm equipment, and a generator.
Meanwhile, embers from the fire were caught up in the strong winds prevalent at the time of the fire, and soon several brush fires were burning on an island in the Susquehanna River. Miner said he called New York Department of Environmental Conservation for assistance with the island fire. Meanwhile, Campville and Nichols fire departments both had their boats in the water, and crews were dispatched to fight he brush fires as night fell.
Several firefighters were overcome during the response, and had to be treated by nearby ambulances. At least one firefighter was taken away in an ambulance.
Southside, Nichols, Campville, Tioga Center, and Owego fire departments responded to the scene. Owego rolled out a full response, according to Owego Fire Chief Daniel Gavin. Meanwhile, the Apalachin Fire Department covered Campville and Owego; Waverly covered Nichols and Tioga Center; and Newark Valley covered Owego while their units were dispatched to the scene, according to Tioga County Fire Coordinator John Scott.
Also responding were fire departments from Athens and Windham Township in Pennsylvania. Scott thanked the Pennsylvania fire companies for their response, and praised the cooperative effort of their firefighters.
Miner also put in a call to FS Lopke Contracting, and the local contractor lent a crane to the effort to break up the smoldering remains and help extinguish the fire. Miner, who works for Lopke, said the owners were nice people, who were more than happy to assist the community.
Although the barn was a total loss, there was no loss of life from the fire.
