Barton Orchards fire burns down several buildings, damages vehicles

The fire broke out around 1 p.m. It burned down several buildings and damaged vehicles.

News 12 Staff

Aug 22, 2022, 7:21 PM

Updated 852 days ago

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Fire crews were at the scene of a propane fire at Barton Orchards in Dutchess County Monday afternoon. 
The fire broke out around 1 p.m. It burned down several buildings and damaged vehicles.
Officials say that a propane delivery truck started leaking fuel, starting a fire.  Neighbors say that explosions followed. 
Owner Peter Barton and the rest of the family rushed away from the fire and started hearing explosions.
Barton says he also had to save his elderly father. 
"We ended up just sitting him on the walker. We're just pushing his walker trying to get as far away as we could," he says.
Barton says they lost their main facility, the ice cream shop, panini shop and several vehicles.
"So right now, we're just figuring out how to go into harvest season. We really don't have our main facility now. I don't even know about our electric infrastructure. They shut our electric down right now," says  Barton.
Neighbors who were evacuated can now go home, and roads are back open.
Officials report no injuries. Barton says all of the animals are OK.
The utilities on the farm are still cut while contractors work to safely remove charred vehicles. 
Barton says he has insurance to cover the damage, but it won't help them salvage the upcoming harvest.
He says they are trying to figure out how to pick the crops without the right equipment.