Demolition Crews Move in After Massive Fire at Vestal Store

Firefighters from several departments battled a huge blaze that ripped through a warehouse at the Home Central store in Vestal.

The fire at the business located at North Main Street and Stage Road was reported around 1:45 p.m. Thursday.

Vestal firefighters at the Home Central store warehouse minutes after the blaze was reported. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Vestal assistant fire chief William Stout was the first on the scene. He said he saw heavy smoke coming from the building and immediately called for a second alarm.

It took several hours for firefighters from Vestal and neighboring departments to bring the blaze under control. No injuries were reported.

Stout said the building was ordered torn down because of safety concerns. Workers from LCP Group of Vestal began demolishing the wrecked building early Thursday evening.

Stout said investigators believed the blaze originated in a warming room area of the warehouse near a fire wall. He said the cause had not been determined.

Although the wood storage area was destroyed, the store on the west side of the complex apparently was not damaged by the fire.

Massive clouds of dense black smoke drifted across the Vestal Parkway on February 13, 2020. (Photo: Dan Burman)

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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