BROOKTONDALE, N.Y. –– A fire on Sunday night at an apartment building in Brooktondale brought multiple departments to the scene in order to control the blaze.
Everyone was able to safely exit the building at 211 Brooktondale Road, in the Town of Caroline. According to a press release from the Ithaca Fire Department, the building was saved, but one apartment unit was a total loss.
The fire was reported to 911 dispatchers just before 9:00 p.m. Sunday night, and Brooktondale firefighters initially responded to the call.
Immediately, Brooktondale Fire Chief Chris Jordan requested Ithaca Fire Department aid in fighting the blaze. Ithaca’s ladder truck was requested to the scene while Brooktondale firefighters began to knock down the flames.
Upon arrival, Ithaca firefighters advanced a hose line into the involved apartment and extinguished the fire while another crew proceeded to the second and third floors to search for occupants, fire and pets. No occupants or firefighters were injured. One iguana, however, was located and thankfully, removed safely from the building.
Mutual aid help from surrounding fire departments including Candor, Danby, Dryden, Slaterville, Speedsville and Varna also assisted. Bangs Ambulance stood by on scene in case of any injuries and Tompkins County Sheriff and State Police were on scene as well.
Firefighters worked for about an hour extinguishing hot spots. The exact cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The State Office of Fire Prevention and Control is investigating.