Fire chief says electricity caused Taft Avenue fire

May 04--The source of a fire early Monday morning in a garage at 12 Taft Ave. was electrical, according to Oneonta Fire Chief Patrick Pidgeon.

The garage was destroyed during the fire, reported at about 4:35 a.m. Monday, three other structures were damaged and one resident had minor injuries from a fall, Pidgeon said Tuesday.

Maureen Hennessy, a former Common Council member, fell inside her home at 126 Center St., en route to exiting the premises, Pidgeon said. Hennessy was taken for treatment to A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta by her daughter and released, the chief said.

No one else was hurt in the fire incident, according to Pidgeon. An investigation is pending by the insurance company to determine the specific electrical source of the fire, he said.

About 45 firefighters were at the scene, officials said.

The fire resulted in damage to structures near the garage, including the residence at 12 Taft Ave., a garage at 11 Draper St. and the home at 126 Center St., Pidgeon said.

Thomas and Patricia LaRose own the 12 Taft Ave. residence, which had melted siding and several cracked windows as a result of the fire, Pidgeon said.

Hennessy's house, which was about 3 feet from the burning garage at 12 Taft Ave., had more damage than the 12 Taft Ave. house, Pidgeon said.

Electricity and gas services at 126 Center St. were turned off and some equipment will be replaced, Pidgeon said, and meanwhile the house isn't habitable.

During the conflagration, an 80-to-100-foot pine tree nearby "lit up," Pidgeon said, and electrical wires were arcing.

Pidgeon said 126 Center St. was damaged outside by fire, and inside, damages resulted in the dining room, a bathroom, a bedroom and into the attic, he said.

Crews did "a great job" putting out the fire, Pidgeon said.

The two-story garage at 11 Draper St., owned by Steve and Jane Carlson, was badly burned on the back side as it was about 2 feet from the 12 Taft Ave. garage, Pidgeon said.

Mutual aid was provided by West Oneonta and Otego departments with Franklin and Worcester sending Firefighter Assist and Search Team crews, Pidgeon said.

Laurens emergency medical crews and Sidney FAST members were at the Oneonta station, Pidgeon said, and Otego crews also were at the Otego station providing coverage.

Otsego County fire coordinators and Oneonta police were on scene, too, Pidgeon said. The Oneonta Fire Department had two engines, an ambulance and its recently purchased aerial truck at the scene .

An occupant of the LaRose residence reported the fire to Emergency 911, Pidgeon said, and residents of the two homes evacuated themselves.

Oneonta crews were back in service at the station at 8:55 a.m., officials said.

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