UPI
CORNWALL, N.Y. — A six-alarm fire burned out of control for hours Sunday in a former mill complex in Cornwall, N.Y.
The (White Plains) Journal News reported dozens of firefighters worked to contain the blaze that was reported before 11 a.m. and produced thick black smoke that could be seen about 40 miles away. The fire was still burning into the evening.
No injuries were reported.
The Middletown Times Herald-Record reported Cornwall Supervisor Kevin Quigley said the old factory complex, which was home to about two dozen small businesses, had a history of code violations.
“In the last month, there were issues with the sprinkler system and other code violations. It goes way back — years,” Quigley said.
He said at least some of the sprinklers had gone off but he didn’t know if all of them had worked properly.
Cornwall Fire Chief Pat Hines said some fire hydrants at the site weren’t functioning.
The cause of the blaze, which one worker said started in a first-floor ceiling, wasn’t known and as of 7:30 p.m. EST officials were unable to begin their investigation of the site.
The Times Herald-Record said the building, built in the late 1800s, originally housed the Firth Carpet Mill. It later became a Majestic Weaving textile plant before being sold and divided into multipurpose rental units.
Quigley said he hadn’t been able to contact the current owner, Isaac Landau.
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