FIRE EXTINGUISHERS GO OFF

Mishap, And Stewart’s

Looks Like It’s Winter

Drivers Checked For Inhalation

COOPERSTOWN – At this hour, Cooperstown’s Stewart’s Shoppe on Route 28 at the south end of the village looks like an early winter storm hit, as the fire-extinguishing system inside the roof of the gasoline-pump island appears to have been activated.

White chemicals, similar to the foam found in hand-held fire extinguishers, were spread from Stewart’s front door right across the street.  Three cars at the pumps appear to be OK, so the “panic button” next to the pumps may have been pushed inadvertently.

Cooperstown firefighters and the EMS squad were at the scene, and drivers and passengers of the cars, who faces were covered with the white chemicals – and may have inhaled some of them – were being cleaned up and checked at the scene.

Fire Chief Jim Tallman and village police officers were investigating at the scene.