Lumber store ripped by fire

PULASKI — White's Lumber went up in flames Thursday night, leaving only a shell of a building still ablaze, with white smoke billowing from where the roof once was.

The company, run by four siblings, also has stores in Watertown, Clayton and Gouverneur.

Co-owners Bradford A. and Jonathan L. White stood on the side of the street and watched orange flames lick the side of the building, which was built in the 1970s.

"What am I thinking? I don't know," Jon White said. "There are a lot of things going through my mind right now. I'm stunned, shocked."

Brad White said the building and company suffered a substantial loss. The fire tore through the building, burning the entire rear, middle and front sections.

"It's a devastating fire," Brad White said. "There was a lot in that building. Paint, drywall, kitchen cabinets, roofing products."

Brad White, who lives in Watertown, said he received a call around 7 p.m., about the time he got home.

"We've seen it before," he said referring to a fire in 1981. "I was expecting to see something like this. The next step will be to completely rebuild."

White's Lumber manager Thomas H. Hanan, Adams, had a day off. He received the bad news from his assistant manager.

"I've worked here for many years," he said. "It's very tough to see this."

More than 14 fire departments from Jefferson County to Onondaga County responded to the blaze.

Fire trucks with 75-foot and 95-foot ladders were used to douse the flames rising from inside the building. More firefighters battled the flames at ground level. Various departments made frequent water drop-offs to fill five portable tanks on the ground.

"These have probably been filled five or six times over," said a firefighter from the Mexico Fire Department. "Each one of these holds about 1,500 gallons of water."

The 911 call was placed at 6:32 p.m., and Pulaski police officer Christopher W. Van Patten and Oswego County Sheriff's Deputy James F. Darling were the first responders.

"I got here four minutes after the 911 call," Mr. Van Patten said. "And the fire trucks came right after."

"We're fortunate no one was hurt in the fire," Jon White said. "There are a lot of people here helping, and we are grateful for that."