CORTLAND - A late Monday night fire at the Cortland Hardwood Products had residents out of their homes and on the sidewalks and roadsides watching as more than 10 fire departments battled the blaze.
A 911 spokesman reported receiving nine calls about 8:45 p.m. from residents seeing flames shooting out of the Cortland Hardwoods building, 234 N. Mecca St. (state Route 46).
Amanda Schilling, whose home is across the street from the business, said her son saw it.
Article Photos
Special to the Tribune Chronicle / Chris McCoy
Cortland and Bazetta fire departments, along with nine other area departments, battle a late Monday fire at Cortland Hardwood Products. The building was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived shortly before 9 p.m.
''He yelled for us to look out the window. There were flames way up really high in the air and then we heard all the fire truck sirens,'' she said.
Schilling and many of those watching were using their cellphones and cameras to get pictures, which showed the fire consuming most of the business before the crews arrived.
Joe Schilling said he believes the fire went through the fiberglass panels of the building.
''They had the fire out pretty quick,'' he said.
No injuries were reported.
According to its website, Cortland Hardwood Products manufactures hardwood products with thousands of interior doors, mouldings and stair parts in red oak, poplar, maple, cherry, hickory, walnut, ash, pine and primed.
Before 9:30 p.m., most of the fire was out. Crews were still at the scene late Monday with the ladder of one truck raised high above the building and spraying water. Smoke continued to rise late into the night from the building near the railroad tracks.
Crews from Cortland, Bazetta, Mecca, the Youngstown Air Base, Howland, Greene, Hartford, Vernon, Kinsman, Johnston and Gustavus were called out.
Residents watching the fire said they could see it from their homes, and some said relatives across Mosquito Creek Reservoir called saying they could see the flames in the air.
Allie Charnas said she and her family and friends saw the fire and walked down to the site.
''We weren't sure what was on fire. We saw the flames. We thought maybe it was the school on fire,'' she said.
Chris McCoy of Mecca, who was in his car, said he could see the flames and a lot of smoke coming from the area.
''I drove down one street and I could see the fire and all the fire trucks. The whole building looked like it was on fire and the smoke was really high in the air,'' he said.