Earl Hare, no age available, of 2364 Route 30 passed away in the fatal fire, which broke out about 1 a.m. today, according to Mayfield Fire Chief Chris Mraz.
Mraz said the initial dispatch was through a passerby who called the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department’s 911 Center. The Mayfield Volunteer Fire Department was called as lead agency, with state police quickly responding.
“We had heavy flow out of the porch area,” Mraz said.
The chief declined to say where Hare’s body was found within the two-story white, woodframe house, which was a shell of itself this morning.
Mraz said there was no official cause of the blaze this morning yet. He said fire crews didn’t have a problem getting the fire under control. He said it took a “good hour” to get the blaze under control.
Serving as backup at the scene were the Broadalbin and Pleasant Square volunteer fire departments. Several investigators remained at the scene late this morning.
The office of County Coroner Margaret Luck was called. She couldn’t be reached this morning.
County Fire Coordinator Steven Santa Maria also couldn’t be reached this morning.
The area of the fire — across from the former Poor Jim’s Restaurant and Montoney’s — was shut down and heavy Route 30 traffic was rerouted.
Hare was well known in Mayfield and often volunteered his time for many community events over the years, including church events, Bannertown Fair and Mayfield High School graduations.
