HAMDEN, NY — A two-and-a-half story farmhouse was destroyed by fire on Fish Hollow Road on Thursday afternoon.
The Walton Fire Department and Emergency Squad were dispatched at 1:55 p.m. after a passerby reported the blaze.
The first apparatus left the station within 10 minutes, and crews could see a large column of smoke from several miles away as they approached.
Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke showing from all windows with flames visible on three sides of the structure.
Due to heavy fire conditions and no one trapped inside, command determined the fire would be fought with defensive tactics only.
A nearby garage sustained heat damage but was saved, and a barn on the property remained untouched.
The fire was brought under control by 3 p.m., but the structure was deemed a total loss.
Two exterior walls burned away and a chimney collapsed, leaving the structure unstable.
An excavator from Tweedie Construction Company was brought in to knock down the remaining walls, allowing firefighters to access additional pockets of fire.
The last fire units cleared the scene at approximately 6 p.m.
No injuries were reported to the three residents or firefighters on scene.
The family’s cats were unable to escape and perished in the fire.
Mutual aid was provided by Delhi, Downsville, Trout Creek, Franklin, Bloomville, Masonville, Otsego, Treadwell and Wells Bridge fire departments, along with Delaware County Electric Coop, Delaware County Coordinators and Delaware County EMS.
