Photos by Robin Freeman

At approximately 0955 hrs on Sunday Dec. 6th Tioga County 9-1-1 received a call for a reported structure fire on Cowburn Rd. near the Turton Rd. in Ulysses Twp. Ulysses Dept 47, Genesee Dept 37 and Galeton Dept 10 were dispatched to respond. Shortly after dispatch Chief 47 (Roy Hunt) reported heavy smoke showing while still enroute. Upon arrival on scene Chief Hunt reported a single story structure heavily involved with a large volume of fire showing on the east end of the structure and heavy smoke issuing from the west end of the building.

Due to deteriorating conditions an exterior attack was conducted. Harrison Twp Dept 20 was also requested to respond with one engine requested to the scene and a second engine to establish water supply operations. Shortly after the arrival of first due units the structure began to collapse. Units were on scene for several hours. The structure was completely destroyed.

More photos of the Turton fire can be found in our Photo Gallery

Within 24 hours the same departments would respond to two additional structure fire calls in the area. The first occurring in Brookland on the Fox Hill Rd. Due to the quick action of a Dept 47 chief officer that lives in the area damage was contained to the area around the chimney. The second call, which came in while crews were still at the Fox Hill scene, was for a chimney fire on the White Knowle Rd in Harrison Twp. Fortunately damage was confined to the area of the chimney in that blaze as well.