TOWN OF LIBERTY – The cause of Tuesday night’s massive fire at the former Grossingers Hotel is under investigation by the State Police and Sullivan County Bureau of Fire.
Liberty Fire Chief Mark Johnstone said firefighters were hampered by a number of obstacles in attempting to fight the blaze in the 3 ½ story building.
Firefighters had to cut through a gate to access the road to get to the fire. They were also hampered by the property being overgrown and concrete barriers on the roadway which prevented apparatus from being able to quickly turn around.
Over 1,000 feet of five-inch hose was laid from the fire back down a hill where tankers were able to off-load water.
At the request of the Town of Liberty Code Enforcement officer, an excavator was brought in to knock down the structure once the fire was out, said the chief.
Mutual aid departments operated on scene for approximately six hours. Assisting departments on the scene were White Sulphur Springs, Loch Sheldrake, Swan Lake, Livingston Manor, Hurleyville, Kauneonga Lake and Woodridge. Monticello FD stood by at Liberty covering calls for Liberty and White Sulphur Springs and responded to two other calls.
EMS standby was provided by Mobile Medic Ambulance.
While the fire was raging, police received reports of a teenager being spotted running into a nearby wooded area. An all-points bulletin was issued to locate and bring him in for questioning. There was no word on if he had been located.
