12/18/2025
December 17th, 2025 Main Street Fire
Yesterday, our Department was dispatched to a structure fire at 15:24 at 73 Main Street.
First arriving fire units were on scene in minutes confirming a working structure fire. All occupants and pets were confirmed to be out of the building.
As officers arrived, extensive Mutual Aid was called to the scene. A total of 15 fire agencies from 4 counties came to battle this fire with over 100 firefighters on scene. Requests for Man power, engines, tankers, aerials, FAST Team, and EMS were all requested to the scene.
The building had a large working fire in the attic and upper floors of the structure. An interior fire operation began, however due to deteriorating conditions all interior operations were suspended and a defensive operation approach was made. When fire conditions improved, an interior operation commenced again.
A water source was established at the Rexmere pond location, and on Blackberry Street dry hydrant location. Additionally, the village hydrant system was also utilized.
New York State Police had two Troopers on scene who offered their assistance. Troopers James Vlahakis, and A. Valente were requested by IC to evacuate neighboring buildings. They were able to get all residents out of 69 and 67 Main Street quickly.
NYSEG was requested and on scene in minutes. Power was taken down for the fire building, and then Main Street as aerial operations were under way. There was one incident at the Main Street Senior housing when power was taken down with a resident stuck in an elevator. A mutual aid department responded and extricated her from the elevator safely.
The blaze was a difficult battle with multiple exposures on the B Side and D Side of the structure. The D side Structure was only 18" from the fire building. Neither of these 2 structures sustained any fire damage, and minimal smoke in both structures.
At 17:17 the fire was knocked down, and an overhaul operation began that was soon all under control. Once Aerial operations were over, power was restored to Main Street. All fire units were back in service at 21:22.
Delaware County Fire Coordinators Delaware County (NY) Department of Emergency Services and Fire Investigators were requested to the scene and are handling the investigation.
The American Red Cross was requested to the scene. They arrived on scene and are assisting all the families affected by this fire.
EMS for firefighter rehab was provided by AMR, Headwaters EMS, Delaware County EMS, and Hobart EMS.
This was another large Aerial truck operation. Assistance was provided to us by Cobleskill Fire Department, Delhi Fire Department, Margaretville Fire Department, and Stamford's Aerial surrounding the entire operation.
Engines, Tankers, and manpower were provided by:
Prattsville Hose Company, Margaretville Fire Department, Halcottsville Fire Department, Roxbury Fire Department, Grand Gorge Fire Department, East Meredith Fire Dept, Davenport Fire Department, South Kortright Fire Department, Conesville Fire Department, Hobart Fire-Department, Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department, Cobleskill Fire Department, Delhi Fire Department, Bloomville Fire Department, Oneonta Fire DepartmentOneonta Professional Firefighters Local 2408.
Thank you to all Fire EMS Law units that were on standby while all units were on scene assisting us.
Law Enforcement: New York State Police Delaware County Sheriff's Office
Traffic assistance New York State Department of Transportation
Sanding roadways and water assistance Village of Stamford DPW
Civilian assistance: James Eklund and Pat Cannon.
Refreshments: Hannah Hauser Bradfield Andy Bradfield T.P.'s Cafe. and Stamford Coffee.
Stewart's Shops for providing coffee and delivering it to the scene.
Tops Friendly Markets also assisted getting us all the necessary refreshments needed right away.
Additionally, the people that are not seen often, but who make our jobs possible with communications! Thank you to our dispatchers. We appreciate each one of you. This was a chaotic scene with lots of radio traffic and all while they are handling lots of other incidents throughout the county. Great job and thank you!!
There are a total of 3 family's that have lost their homes and belongings. Heather Clark has started a go fund me to help raise money for these family's. Please consider donating if you can.
I hope no one was overlooked. The fire scene was very busy and chaotic and sometimes someone may be overlooked, it is not intentional.
Please keep all those affected by this fire in your thoughts and prayers. No fire is easy to deal with, especially now as winter begins and at Christmas time.
We thank all of you who responded to our call for need. We appreciate you all.
Don VanEtten
Chief
Stamford Fire Department
