PAMELIA, New York (WWNY) – At least 6 people were left homeless after fire swept through the Hotis Motel on Route 37 in the town of Pamelia. The blaze was reported just before 5:30 a.m. Thursday.
“It’s an older structure, wooden frame structure, dry building. A fire like that can spread extremely quickly. And, I would say all but for the grace of God we had no injuries or fatalities in it,” said Joe Wargo, Northpole Fire Department chief.
Joe Plummer, director of Jefferson County Fire and Emergency Management, adds that state police played a big role in keeping people safe.
“First people on the scene was the state police and they did a great job of making sure people were out and away from the building,” he said.
Wargo says all eight units were occupied. Everyone inside escaped without injury. The Red Cross and VETS Peer to Peer Outreach Center are helping at least 6 people.
“The entire structure was fully involved. As I said, all eight units were active fire in them,” he said.
Northpole, city of Watertown, town of Brownville, Pamelia, Glen Park, and Black River fire departments were on the scene. City crews brought their department’s ladder truck to attack flames from above.
Wargo says they were able to get the fire under control in around half an hour, and kept it from reaching other homes.
“The other building was not touched,” he said.
Police on scene also broke up what appeared to be commotions and altercations. We reached out to state police for information, didn’t hear back.
Jefferson County Department of Social Services uses the Hotis to help people, although it’s unclear if that applies to anyone displaced by the fire.
County Legislator and Health and Human Services Committee Chair Anthony Doldo says regardless, the fire has left people without a home.
“Our housing market is so dwindled now that it’s just going to make it a worse situation to try and find more placement for how many people were in there,” he said.
If they need DSS help, Doldo says the department’s doors are open to them.
“People, no matter where they are, they’re still people. We can’t turn a blind eye to them. That’s not what we do,” he said.
If this affects where social services can place people, that will make the current problem worse.
Remember, DSS is having a hard time placing people already because the Rainbow Motel on Route 12 burned down in 2020.
And no one can live at 661 Factory Street in Watertown because that building was condemned last summer.
Firefighting efforts closed Route 37 between Route 11 and Alder Street. The highway reopened around 8 a.m.
The fire was out before 7 a.m., but crews remained to take care of hot spots and secure the scene.
The cause is under investigation.
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