Residents react with shock to four fire deaths

By KAYLEIGH KARUTIS, The Leader-Herald

WELLS - Local officials responded with shock and disbelief at the deadly blaze that killed four developmentally disabled people at a group home here early Saturday.

"You don't get calls like this every day," said Wells Fire Department Chief Bernie Moldt. "It's shocking."

Moldt, who said he has been with the department for 26 years, said Wells has not had a fatal fire since 1982.

State police trooper Russell Dennie said he responds to many fire scenes but is still affected by the tragedy of a fatal fire. Dennie was on the scene at 1534 State Route 30 Saturday afternoon.

"It's difficult responding to a scene like this, but it has to be a lot more difficult for the people of this community," he said.

Two of the four dead were found in the home, which was run by the Sunmount Developmental Disabilities Services Office, a division of the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. The other two died en route to Albany Medical Center Hospital. A fifth resident is in stable condition in St. Elizabeth Hospital in Utica, according to OMRDD officials.

Four other residents and two aides escaped relatively unscathed, officials said. The aides and one resident were being treated at Nathan Littauer Hospital for non-life- threatening injuries, officials said.

State Sen. Elizabeth O'Connor Little of the 45th District, which includes Hamilton County, was on the scene Saturday.

"It's just so tragic to lose four lives," she said. "It was a massive fire. The building was brand new."

The home was built in May. The residents arrived in June, Little said.

OMRDD Commissioner Diana Jones Ritter arrived on the scene after being flown in by a helicopter. She said she will be updating Gov. David Paterson as to the progress of the investigation.

State police officials said it would likely take days, if not weeks, to determine a cause, though a press release from the state Civil Liberties Union said the fire is believed to have been electrical.

"This is just an absolute horror," Ritter said. "The staff and residents here are like family. The aides for these residents are with them daily; they are like family to each other."

Hamilton County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Farber also was on the scene. He said a loss such as the one Wells experienced Saturday morning can shake a small town to its core.

"It's especially hard hitting for small Adirondack towns like Wells," he said. "People here know each other. Everyone knows everyone. It's a horrible circumstance, and our hearts go out to the families and friends [of the dead]."

Wells Supervisor Brian Towers, who also is a volunteer firefighter, was one of the first officials on the scene Saturday morning.

He said when he arrived, one side of the home was engulfed and the blaze was quickly spreading to the other side of the building.

"It was clear when we arrived that no one would be able to get into the building," he said.

Towers said there was a tremendous amount of support from local fire departments. Officials from departments in Wells, Lake Pleasant, Northville, Hope and Speculator responded, he said.

"It's just a sad day here," he said.

Kayleigh Karutis can be reached at gloversville@leaderherald.com.