"The front of the house was fully involved when we got on the scene. The home owners were out in the road away from the house by the time crews got onto the scene. This was an old school house, probably one of the oldest buildings in Conklin. With the type of construction, the fire just took off up to the walls in the building. It was pretty much going pretty good by the time our first truck got here," said Bill Gorman, Fire Chief of the Conklin Fire Department.
It’s believed the fire started somewhere near the kitchen, before spreading quickly through the walls and into the attic. The flames were so heavy that firefighters never even made it inside. Fire Chief Bill Gorman said, seven fire departments responded to the incident. He also said that the elderly couple who resided at the home opened a door and noticed fire in the kitchen but they were able to escape. The couple was taken to the hospital for observation but did not sustain any serious injuries.
"I know different families have lived in it, and it means a lot to a lot of them,” Conklin Fire Chief Bill Gorman said. “It's a historic building. Unfortunately, now it's ruined."
The Conklin Fire Department was the main department on scene, but at least five other crews helped out. Firefighters said they may never know what caused the fire because the home will be torn down.
The structure is a total loss. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
