| While returning from a hay bale fire on Route 11, Potsdam Fire was activated by the St. Lawrence County 911 center, at approximately 1640 hours, for an unknown type fire at the P & C grocery store located in the Potsdam Plaza at 179 Market Street in the Village of Potsdam. Upon arrival, Potsdam firefighters encountered store employees and customers beginning to evacuate the store. Chief Taylor entered the store and met Lieutenant Mike Corbett who reported a fire progressing in the paper products section. The large store was filled with smoke and visibility was decreasing as the fire continued to progress. A single sprinkler head had been activated and was working to contain the fire to the aisle. Employees had unsuccessfully attempted to extinguish the fire with extinguishers but the fire grew rapidly and they had to evacuate the building.
Engine 48, operated by Paid Fire Driver Richard Fenton, proceeded to the front of the store. Rescue 14, operated by Firefighter Walt McLennan, arrived and also set up in front of the store. Chief Taylor instructed Engine 80, operated by Past Chief John Keleher, to proceed to the rear of the store. Engine 111, operated by Past Chief Steve Keleher, was instructed to stage at the fire hydrant in the Ponderosa parking lot and later moved to the scene for its smoke ejector. Horizontal ventilation was immediately initiated and an 1 3/4" handline was stretched from Engine 48 into the store and extinguished the fire. Potsdam firefighters simultaneously searched the large store to ensure everyone had made it out safely. Firefighters worked carefully to minimize water damage to the store and inventory. Firefighters, under the supervision of Potsdam Fire Assistant Chief McGregor and Assistant Chief Goliber, assisted store employees in quickly mopping up the water to prevent further damage. Quick work by firefighters limited the water and smoke damage and the store was able to reopen at 6:00 AM on Monday morning after complying with the regulations from New York State Ag & Markets.
Mutual aid was requested, due to the large size of the store, for additional smoke ejectors and personnel to deploy them from Brasher-Winthrop Fire, Hannawa Falls Fire, Norwood Fire, and West Stockholm Fire. Norwood Fire also provided an engine and standby crew at the Potsdam Fire Station during the incident. Potsdam Rescue treated a store employee at the scene for minor burns to the hands.
Fire Investigators from the Potsdam Fire Department and Potsdam Police Department determined the cause of the fire to be suspicious in origin. The Potsdam Police Department is currently seeking two white male suspects for questioning. One of the two men is listed as about five-feet-five, thin build, dark medium-length hair with dark-colored pants and waist-length jacket. The second man is described as nearly six feet tall, brown unkept hair, brown hip-length jacket and white sneakers. Anyone with information about the fire or these suspects can contact the Potsdam Police Department at 315-265-2121. |
