PHOTOS: Half a dozen fire departments were at the scene of a large fire Thursday morning at the former CharlesTown Mall in Frankfort.
Firefighters were called to the scene at about 1:28 a.m. Thursday, according to Frankfort Center Assistant Fire Chief Fred Distefano.
The rear section of the building, stretching back to where it ends at Turner Street, was fully involved when firefighters arrived, he said.
The Route 5S eastbound off ramp to Turner Street is temporary closed to traffic due to the fire, the New York State Department of Transportation announced Thursday morning.
Along with Frankfort Center, Utica, Schuyler, Frankfort Hill, Frankfort and Whitesboro fire departments also responded, Distefano said. He anticipates firefighters will be at the scene for around the next two days.
“Now we’ve got the weather coming in that we’re going to have to deal with it this afternoon,” he said, noting that potential high winds could keep firefighters off the ladders to reach the large structure.