TRR photo by Jill Padua (Click for larger iamge)

By TOM KANE

NARROWSBURG - Last Saturday morning, Jackie Adams had an earache and needed to see a doctor before she went to camp. Her father Dennis took her to the Highland Physicians Medical Center in Narrowsburg.

Dennis, a fireman with the Welcome Lake Fire Department, smelled something bad. He went down to the basement and discovered smoke up to his knees.

He closed all the doors to contain the fire and ran for help, soon bringing a phalanx of firefighters from many companies.

The fire, discovered at 9:30 a.m., is currently under investigation by the county and George Dickover of St. Paul's Property Claims insurance company. The fire appeared accidental, according to Narrowsburg Fire Chief Craig Burkle.

It took about an hour and a half to quell the flames, according to Burkle. "We had to bust out the roof so there is some damage up there, too."

The basement offices were totally destroyed but the upstairs offices suffered only heavy smoke damage. "We were able to cover any records and files there with a tarp so they were not damaged," Burkle said.