Copake farm loses barns, dairy livestock in fire

COPAKE — A large-scale barn fire burned for approximately eight hours Thursday, Dec. 17, at Snook Hill Farm, a dairy operation on Empire Road in Copake. Two structures were completely destroyed by the fire, a third was severely damaged, and an estimated 35 livestock were lost in the blaze.

Copake Fire Chief Randy Shadic said the Copake Fire Department was dispatched at 2:58 p.m., had a first unit on the scene seven minutes later and was working to contain the flames within 11 minutes.

The Copake and Ancram fire departments were the first on the scene, followed by Hillsdale and Craryville, Shadic reported. Departments from Millerton, Churchtown and Taghkanic provided mutual aid support.

“There was one building [on fire] with exposure to two additional buildings,� he reported at the scene the following day. Preventing the residence from catching fire was the department’s top priority, he said, and responders to the scene mounted an “aggressive exterior attack� to prevent the fire from spreading.

An effort was also made to rescue animals trapped inside the burning buildings. Shadic said there was some success with evacuation, but that some livestock returned to the burning building and were trapped there. The fire chief said there were approximately 80 cattle on the farm, and that an estimated 35 had been lost in the fire. The rest have since been moved off the property.

Snook Hill Farm is owned by Paul and Nancy Miller, who were not available for comment the next morning. New York State Electric and Gas responded to the scene and disconnected power and phone lines.

“We need to give tremendous appreciation to the fire departments that assisted,� Shadic said. “It was a very extensive response, and their assistance was tremendous in helping save what could be saved.�

A variety of factors contributed to the severity of the fire, the chief said.

“Barns are notorious for producing large open flames,� he explained. “Once it starts, there’s no stopping. It’s unfortunate, but typical.� The presence of hay, open wood materials, asphalt siding and tin roofs (which trap the fire) made it difficult to fight the flames. Single-digit temperatures and strong winds also contributed to the struggle.

The Columbia County Cause and Origin Team is currently looking into the cause of the fire. Shadic said he had no reason to believe it was anything but an accident.