Cutline: A look at when the fire first started and Friendship volunteers getting water on the apartment complex while saving lives. John Firkel photo.
By JOHN ANDERSON
Volunteer firefighters went through a horrific time for 24 hours starting Thursday afternoon as they responded to a fire at a building that housed eight apartments over two addresses in Friendship on Depot Street.
While there are eight apartments, there are multiple families and residents, and not all were accounted for. Interior attackmen were racing in the building to fight the fire and look for victims.
Story and how to help continues after this video that shows what firefighters first saw on the scene:
Allegany County officials are reporting everyone escaped. Some were injured, but all are accounted for.
Allegany County Legislative Chairman W. Brooke Harris said, “All people were evacuated from the structure, evaluated, and have been released. Eight apartments were destroyed by the fire, and The American Red Cross and Love Thy Neighbor were contacted to assist the displaced families.”
As for the incident, Harris said, “on January 2, 2025, our Office of Emergency Management reported that at 12:27 p.m., the Friendship Fire Department was toned out to respond to a structure fire at 4 Depot Street in Friendship. Ten Allegany County Fire Departments as well as the City of Olean Fire Departments responded to the scene. In addition, seven ambulance services responded, and three fire departments were on standby. Our law enforcement offices including the New York State Police, Sheriff’s Office, and Friendship Police Department also assisted.”
Harris added, “On behalf of the citizens of Allegany County, I would like to recognize and thank the many dedicated first responders whose quick actions and tireless efforts helped to minimize the devastation this tragic fire caused. “
WHAT IS NEEDED?
The Friendship Free Library is a place to drop off items or money.
They also put together this list:
If you’d like to donate to the 10 families impacted by the fire today, here’s the current list of needed things:
The Jones Family in C-6
XL 14/16 pants woman, scrubs 2x shoes size 9
Age 14 L shirts 10/12 pants shoes size 9 shoes
Age 11 L boys shirts 14/16 pants boys shoes size 6 1/2
Age 13 1x shirts 18/20 pants woman’s shoes size: 11
Men:
Small shirts
Medium shirts
Medium large shirts
XL shirts
28×30 pants
38×30 jeans
34×30 jeans
Size 9 shoes
Women:
Large shirts
Medium shirts
Size 14 pants
Size 8 shoes
Boys:
Size 4T
Size 5-6
Size 6-7
Size 7-8
Size 9-10 shoes
Size 12-13 shoes
Girls:
3-6 months
9-12 months
Others:
Luvs diapers size 3-4
Bottles and sippy cups
Toddler beds
Twin beds
The library added, “Cash donations always accepted!”
The owner of the building is Aleck Friend.
On Facebook, Amanda McDonnell wrote, “Aleck’s apartment building that he owns went up in flames today. He had 6 families as tenants and he lived there as well. All of his tenants made it out, although a few went to the hospital. In the photo, the windows in the bottom right full of flames are his apartment. He lost everything, all of his personal possessions. Yes, he has insurance, he has done everything the right way with this first venture into being a landlord and homeowner. It will take a while for the paperwork and investigation to be concluded. I am requesting your prayers, not only for my boy, but also for misplaced tenants.”
McDonnell’s PayPal is phantomakf@aol.com.
“Thank you to everyone who has called and sent messages,” McDonnell added. “We love you all and are so thankful for your love and support.”
