DAILY FREEMAN: Blast at Tuthilltown Spirits distillery in Gardiner leaves no one hurt
Published: Tuesday, September 25, 2012Freeman staff
pmitchell@freemanonline.com; twitter.com/anchoratfreeman
GARDINER, N.Y. — An explosion and fire in the production room at Tuthilltown Spirits, where whiskey and other alcoholic beverages are made, damaged the distillery Monday morning, but did not close the business, a family member said.
“We’re OK. No one was in the building when it happened,” said Cathy Erenzo. “Luckily, there wasn’t too much damage.”
She said the explosion occurred at 10 a.m., before most employees arrived for the day. No customers were on the property, she said.
The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office said a preliminary investigation shows no evidence of foul play. Authorities said a tank containing alcohol may have ruptured, causing the alcohol to come in contact with a heat source and igniting a fire.
A lone employee in the business office at the time heard a rumbling from the production room, but left when he saw flames, deputies said.
The fire was was extinguished within 35 minutes, according to a Gardiner Fire Department assistant chief. New Paltz, Shawangunk Valley, Wallkill, Walker Valley, Modena and Clintondale firefighters assisted.
The tasting room, store and business offices at Tuthilltown remain open, Erenzo said.
Tuthilltown Spirits, at 14 Grist Mill Lane, distills vodka and whiskey made from local apples and grains, according to its website. The distillery also produces rum, eau de vie, brandy, absinthe and infusion beverages.
READ MORE AT:
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2012/09/25/blotter/doc506109020f5b4213645671.txt
“We’re OK. No one was in the building when it happened,” said Cathy Erenzo. “Luckily, there wasn’t too much damage.”
She said the explosion occurred at 10 a.m., before most employees arrived for the day. No customers were on the property, she said.
The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office said a preliminary investigation shows no evidence of foul play. Authorities said a tank containing alcohol may have ruptured, causing the alcohol to come in contact with a heat source and igniting a fire.
A lone employee in the business office at the time heard a rumbling from the production room, but left when he saw flames, deputies said.
The fire was was extinguished within 35 minutes, according to a Gardiner Fire Department assistant chief. New Paltz, Shawangunk Valley, Wallkill, Walker Valley, Modena and Clintondale firefighters assisted.
The tasting room, store and business offices at Tuthilltown remain open, Erenzo said.
Tuthilltown Spirits, at 14 Grist Mill Lane, distills vodka and whiskey made from local apples and grains, according to its website. The distillery also produces rum, eau de vie, brandy, absinthe and infusion beverages.
READ MORE AT:
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2012/09/25/blotter/doc506109020f5b4213645671.txt
posted by Carlo De Vito | 7:12 AM
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