UPDATE 8:09 p.m.: The city of Oneonta issued the following statement on the incident:
“At approximately 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 9th, the Oneonta Fire Department and multiple mutual aid departments responded to a reported explosion and structure fire at 18 Richards Ave in the Town of Oneonta.
Upon arrival, they found multiple residences with severe damage and one active structure fire.
Crews remain actively working on scene at this time. A full investigation into the incident will be completed.
As this is an ongoing incident, the public is asked to remain clear of the area.”
************
Emergency crews responded to a house fire and possible explosion at 18 Richards Ave. in the town of Oneonta around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9. While police and fire officials on the scene did not immediately provide information on the cause of the fire or any potential injuries, Polly Bailey, of 15 Richards Ave., said the blast blew off her front door, while Tyler Coffin, 15, who was upstairs at Bailey’s home, said a piece of the ceiling fell on him. Other neighbors as far as Chestnut Street reported hearing the explosion. According to scanner reports, emergency crews began evacuating residents of Richards Avenue starting at Butler Street around 6:40 p.m.