Fire Companies Battle Blaze at Bethel's Russell Farm Amid Record Heatwave

WJFF - The Local Edition - Special Report

On Thursday, June 20, at approximately 12:37 PM, a fire broke out at Russell Farm's barn located along Route 17B in Bethel, NY. The White Lake Fire Company received the call and promptly responded to the scene. According to Shane Cunningham of the White Lake Fire Company, the fire was triggered by a mechanical failure in the hay conveyor machine. Despite the record heat, there were no injuries reported, and all livestock remained unharmed.

“Thankfully, the kids that were stacking the hay got out. We had a fire truck on the scene within five minutes. As soon as we got there, we started putting water on the fire. We ended up dispatching 21 fire companies in total, including at least five standby crews,” said Cunningham.

Firefighters from the White Lake Fire Company, along with 21 other responders, worked diligently for over four and a half hours to control the blaze. An estimated 500,000 gallons of water were used, transported to the site through a tanker shuttle system..

“Temperatures were anywhere between 90 and 100 degrees from 12:30 until, I believe, around 6:30 or quarter to seven when we finally started backing up and getting out of there before returning to the station. A lot of us have severe sunburn, but thankfully everyone in the community, along with the task force and the rehab trailer, took care of us. We were able to keep everybody in good condition. Nobody went to the hospital; everyone was fine when they left,” said Cunningham.

The community played a vital role in supporting the firefighting efforts. Local businesses, auxiliary units, and residents contributed by providing water, fruits, and other supplies to aid the firefighters in the extreme heat on Thursday.

Sullivan County Fire Coordinator John Hauschild said that fighting the fire was a team effort.

“In total, there were 21 fire departments there, including some from Orange County and some from Pennsylvania. They covered our stations on standby, moving up to handle that. Bethel EMS and Empress Ambulance were there to help provide rehab for the emergency workers, along with the Sullivan County Division of Public Safety Rehab Team. Our 911 center did an outstanding job dispatching and directing the agencies where to go. They were amazing. It was a great effort by all. The community support was outstanding, with everyone bringing water, fruit, and sandwiches to help the first responders stay hydrated and nourished in the heat during the barn fire,” said Hauschild.

In a statement on their Facebook page, Russell Farm expressed their gratitude:

“The tremendous support that we have received from our community is so appreciated. A huge thank you to all of the firemen who worked through yesterday's heat, to the first responders who made sure everyone was ok. A thank you for all the donations to keep these men and women hydrated while they fought to extinguish the fire. Thank you to our friends and neighbors who have offered their support and their kindness. Every encouraging word and hug has been appreciated. We are grateful that no one was injured. While we lost so much, our loved ones are ok and the animals are fine. From our family to all of you—Thank You.”