Someone attempting to light a fire in a wood stove set fire to the wall of a wood building instead this morning at BJ Farms in Jamesport.
The Jamesport Fire Department had to use water from a tanker truck to put the fire out because the fire hydrant’s cap was frozen, First Assistant Chief John Andrejack said.
About 30 volunteer firefighters responded to the 10 a.m. call with two engines and a tanker. Police and Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps also responded to the scene. No one was injured.
Though firefighters quickly knocked the fire down with chemicals and water from the tanker, the fire spread up the wall to the second story of the structure, Andrejack said.
The fire department’s protocol is respond to that location with a tanker for all calls, because there are no hydrants inside the property, which runs very deep off the road, the assistant chief said. Firefighters were able to get loosen the hydrant cap and get a five-inch water line running from the hydrant, he said, but having the tanker on hand expedited the knockdown.
Andrejack took the opportunity to stress the importance of keeping a working fire extinguisher in your home or business at all times — especially if you have a wood stove. The person trying to light the stove at the farm this morning ran across the street to Jamesport Hardware to buy an extinguisher, hoping to put the fire out, Andrejack said. Staff at the hardware gave him their own extinguisher, plus a couple off the shelf. But the fire was already moving up the wall by the time the fire department arrived on scene.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Peter Blasl
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
