Early Morning Blaze
Guts Nate’s Auto, Tire
By IAN AUSTIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
ONEONTA – The Oneonta Fire Department had to shut down the railroad tracks on Railroad Avenue this morning to battle a blaze that destroyed Nate’s Tire & Auto.
According to Robert O’Brien, director, Otsego County 911, the call came in at 3:52 a.m. When crews arrived on scene, the garage was engulfed.
The railroad had to be shut down for a brief time as the responders were using a fire hydrant across the tracks. In addition, efforts to fight the blaze were suspended for 10 minutes as a lightning storm moved through the area in the early morning hours.
“We had the firefighters seek shelter.” said Fire Chief Patrick Pidgeon, “We didn’t want them acting like a lightning rod while up in the aerial unit.”
Laurens covered the station and West Oneonta was on stand-by.
No injuries were reported, but four cars and two trailers were damaged. The fire, which is believed to have started on the east side of the building, is still under investigation.
