(The following appeared on the News Sun website on December 29.)
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Firefighters from six different departments kept a series of brush fires along the CSX railroad tracks in Lake Placid from damaging any buildings Monday afternoon.
The fires stretched from the intersection of Heartland Street and Main Avenue all the way down to Old State Road 8, according to Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department Chief Adam Hess, and were most likely caused by sparks from a passing train.
A stretch of about 100 yards through downtown was heavily scorched, casting a layer of smoke over Main Avenue and the surrounding streets.
It was unclear which direction the offending train was heading, Hess said, although phone calls to the train company had been made.
Hess said that in addition to his department, firefighters from Leisure Lakes, Highlands County Fire Services, Highlands Park, Placid Lakes and Sun ‘N Lake South were also involved in the effort.