The Village of Watkins Glen is praising firefighters and mutual aid crews for their response to an apartment fire that threatened the downtown area over the weekend.
In a letter dated Tuesday, Mayor Peter Cherock and the Village Board of Trustees thanked the Watkins Glen Fire Department for its quick response to the early Sunday morning fire at a North Franklin Street apartment building.
Village officials said firefighters’ professionalism and rapid response in knocking down the third-floor apartment fire “surely averted what could have been a major disaster to our downtown center.”
The letter also praised the department’s dedication, training, and service to village residents, calling firefighters “village heroes.”
Officials also recognized the sacrifices made by volunteer firefighters and their families, noting many responders balance emergency calls with full-time jobs and family responsibilities.
The village additionally thanked neighboring fire departments and mutual aid agencies that responded to assist at the scene.
The fire broke out shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday, and was contained to a third-floor apartment. No injuries were reported, and all residents and pets safely escaped the building. The cause remains under investigation.
