Fire Destroys Barn and Home in Owego

UPDATE: The Southern Tier Community gathers together to help the owners of an Owego family farm that lost everything in an October 19.

This news release was sent October 21 announcing a fundraiser to help the family and providing more information concerning the blaze:

Fundraiser for the Rudin family happening Saturday at the VFW Post in Owego

-- Spaghetti dinner to benefit family; donations to be accepted -- 

On Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 19, the well-known home of the Olde Tyme Farm Days, Rudin’s Farm, burned to the ground after sparks ignited hay bales located within the garage. Because of the wind and the sheer strength of the fire, the nearby home was consumed, and all was lost.

On Oct. 22, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at VFW Post 1371 in Owego, a spaghetti takeout dinner will benefit the Rudin Family. Volunteers have been gathered, and it is the hope of the organizers that those wishing to help the family rebuild will consider attending the event. 

The cost for the meal is $10 and includes spaghetti, bread, salad, and a drink. One Hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit the family. Additional donations are welcome, and the VFW, which is located at 207 Main St. in Owego, will be open for guests that want to visit.

A GoFundMe Page has also been set up at https://gofund.me/6b8db7b0; and for those that prefer to mail a donation, you can send them to Kim Rudin, 4848 Gaskill Rd., Owego, N.Y. 13827. 

ORIGINAL STORY:

No serious injuries are reported but a barn and a house in the Town of Owego are said to be a total loss following a fast-moving fire October 19 that drew firefighters from Tioga and Broome counties to the scene. 

The blaze was reported after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 19 at 4890 Gaskill Road as a barn fire.  By the time firefighters arrived on the scene the flames had spread to the nearby home. 

The concentration of the responding firefighters quickly turned from the barn, that was quickly destroyed by the fire, to the home.  

Tanker trucks were called in from Broome County along with other equipment and manpower and water was being drawn from a fill site at Lockheed Martin on Route 17C to pump onto the fire. 

New York State Electric and Gas and an excavator to clear the rubble from the scene were called in.  The Southern Tier Chapter of the American Red Cross Disaster Response Team was requested to assist the property owners. 

Tioga County Emergency Services officials could not comment on if there were any animals lost or extent of damage.  Social media posts indicated both structures were totally lost. 

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Postings to the Tioga County Firewire page had indicated some patients being treated but later reports claimed there were no injuries.  As is normal protocol, several ambulances were called to the scene. 

Over a dozen fire crews from around the region had responded to the scene according to some accounts. 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation although it is apparent the origin was in the barn and the winds, gusting over 20 miles an hour at times in the afternoon contributed to the rapid spread of the flames to the nearby home.