October 29, 2009

ALFRED -- Fire destroys two businesses in Alfred -- shaking up the small town and leaving several college students looking for a new place to live.
     A pile of rubble is all that's left of 3 North Main Street in Alfred.  An early morning fire destroyed Westside Wine and Spirits and Alfred Sports Center.
     “It’s shocking.  I haven't quite determined what to think,” said Tara Foster, who’s worked at the sporting goods store for 18 years.
     “I was just happy that it was contained to our building, and didn't take any of the other stores with it.  That's a good thing. Nobody got hurt,” said Foster.
     Also destroyed -- five upstairs apartments.  Nine Alfred University and two Alfred State students got out safely, but lost everything.
     “They’re safe, they're being housed, they're being fed, they're being counseled.  They're doing remarkably well,” said Stanley Colla, Alfred University’s vice-president for university relations.
     Colla says both colleges and the community stepped up immediately, donating clothes and schoolbooks to the victims.
     “They’ll pull through. It'll work out somehow or another,” said Foster.
     Investigators hope to figure out what caused the fire by Friday.

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