Hunter B&B destroyed by fire

HUNTER — Firefighters from eight companies battled a fast-moving fire Wednesday night that destroyed a house in Hunter that was home to a bed-and-breakfast, Hunter Fire Chief John Laveglia said.

The two-story, five-bedroom log home, at 186 Pine Lane, was being used as an Airbnb, Laveglia said.

Eight Greene County fire companies responded to fight the fully involved blaze into the small hours of Thursday morning.

Nobody was home when the fire broke out, Laveglia said.

At about 10:34 p.m. Greene County 911 sent the Hunter Fire Company to the scene after receiving a call from a neighbor who told them that they smelled smoke and could see flames coming from the house across the street.

When the first firefighters arrived at the home, they reported that the building was fully engulfed in flames, and immediately requested mutual-aid assistance from neighboring fire departments.

All available manpower and tankers were requested to the scene. A water source to fill tankers was established at a nearby pond.

Firefighters attacked the blaze from every angle, Laveglia said. The Catskill Fire Company ladder truck arrived so water could be sprayed down from above on the massive fire.

Crews battled the fire for nearly five hours. They began releasing some of the mutual-aid companies around 3:30 a.m.

There were no reported injuries to firefighters, Laveglia said.

The Greene County Cause and Origin Team is investigating the cause, but it is not believed to be suspicious, Laveglia said.

The house is a total loss, Laveglia said.

Hunter firefighters were still at the scene on Thursday afternoon, Laveglia said.

Other fire companies that assisted Hunter were: Haines Falls, Tannersville, East Jewett, Jewett, Lexington, Lanesville, and Catskill.

Also assisting at the scene were: Hunter Ambulance, Tannersville Rescue, Greene County Paramedics, Hunter Police, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, state police, and the Greene County Fire Coordinator’s Office.