By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
CATTARAUGUS — Six fire companies responded to an arson fire at the former Cattaraugus Elementary School Tuesday. There were no injuries.
The Cattaraugus County Emergency 911 Center received a call of smoke coming from the three-story yellow brick structure at 51 Washington Street about 4:30 p.m.
Volunteer firefighters did not clear the scene until about 8:30 p.m.
Wind, snow and frigid temperatures added to challenges firefighter faced in the dark building that is without power.
There was minor damage from fires set on the first and second floors, said Cattaraugus Fire Chief Wayne Stein.
Besides Cattaraugus, volunteer firefighters and equipment from Little Valley, Otto, Dayton, Perrysburg, Gowanda and Salamanca responded to the mutual aid call. Cattaraugus Area Ambulance stood by and Cattaraugus Auxiliary members provided food and warm drinks.
Stein said a small fire fueled by old textbooks was found on the first floor and a larger one on the second floor where a pile of books was also burning was the third arson at the structure. It was not the biggest fire firefighters have fought there.
Stein said the previous fires were larger fires. The school is filled with old desks and books to fuel the fires.
It has been vacant since 1992 when it was last used as an elementary school. Built in 1926, it once held the entire student body from K-12. The new Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School campus is now located a few blocks away.
“I hope when they catch them (arsonists), they do something to them,” the fire chief said. He added that he wished the county could do something with the building most everyone agrees has become a dangerous eyesore.
Four years ago Ashley Wier and Paul Rankin purchased the building with a vision of turning it into a health and community center. Initial estimates to abate asbestos and restore the building were upwards of $4.5 million. No work has been done.
