Firefighters called to blaze at Groton winery

GROTON, N.Y. – Multiple fire departments were called to a barn fire at Howard Farms Winery in the town of Groton this afternoon.

The call came in Tompkins County at about 2:30 p.m. for a barn fire at 608 Cortland Road, according to emergency radio reports. Fire departments from Cortland and Cayuga counties were later called to the scene.

Randy Sovocool, who lives near the winery, saw smoke coming from the roof of the building and went to check on his neighbor's business. He said the farm owner was attempting to fix a lawnmower when it caught on fire.

"I was going to try and help him drag some stuff out [of the barn], but the fire was so bad it wasn't worth going inside," Sovocool said.

The winery and greenhouse offers wine tastings, potted plants and fruit pickings, but also specializes in lawnmower and snowblower repair, according to its website and Facebook page,

Fire departments from Cortlandville, Dryden, Freeville, Homer, Lansing, McLean, and Moravia also responded to the scene. Route 222 at Salt Road in the town of Groton remains closed to traffic.

No injuries have been reported.

This story will be updated.

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Photos and video by Peter Blanchard/Cortland Voice

Photos by Peter Blanchard/Cortland Voice