Inlet: Community benefit to be held May 14 at Ole Barn

Afternoon Fire Destroys couple’s South Shore Home

Local fire fighters responded to a fire call at the South Shore Road home of Ron and Jill Hollister at approximately 12:38 p.m. on Friday, April 22.

First on the scene was personnel from the Eagle Bay Fire Department who found the Inlet side of the home to be fully engulfed in flames.

According to Eagle Bay Fire Chief Shane Beach, Inlet, Big Moose and Old Forge fire departments also responded to the fire with Otter Lake and Raquette Lake departments on standby.

Chief Beach said the departments had to rely on tanker trucks to provide water to battle the blaze at the Hollisters’ hilltop home as there are no dry hydrants in the area.

Water was shuttled from as far away as Rocky Point—a four-mile round trip.

Despite the efforts of all the departments, the home was a total loss.

“We thought we had it licked at one point, but when the flames broke through the roof and were fanned by the winds it got away from us,” Chief Beach said.

According to Chief Beach, his department is looking into options for placement of dry hydrants on private properties along the South Shore Road or possibly Quiver Pond which will hopefully alleviate another tragedy.

The investigation of the cause of the fire is continuing.

Kathy and Ron Hansen, owners of the Ole Barn in Inlet are planning a benefit for the Hollisters on Saturday, May 14. More information on the event will follow.

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