UTICA, N.Y. Six greenhouses at Brightwaters Farms in North Utica were damaged in an early morning Brightwaters Farms fire Saturday, October 17, with no injuries reported, according to the Daily Sentinel’s account of the fire.
Fire Chief Scott Ingersoll told the Sentinel that the alarm came around 5:40 a.m. and crews needed about two hours to control the flames. The damaged greenhouses were being renovated for spring and had no plants growing inside due to the Brightwaters Farms fire.
Access complicated the response
The Sentinel reported that the nearest hydrant was about 1,200 feet away and the property had one entrance. Those conditions made it harder to reach the fire and supply water.
WKTV’s separate report, also citing Utica’s fire chief, said a Williamsburg Road caller saw smoke and flames. Police confirmed the fire, and additional fire companies were requested to help.
Some crews approached from Williamsburg Road, crossing adjoining yards to reach the burning section. WKTV reported that firefighters stopped the flames from reaching other buildings and that the chief thanked neighbors for their cooperation.
The cause remained under investigation in WKTV’s October 17 report. The sources reviewed for this article did not provide a repair cost or a date for the affected greenhouses to return to use.
A familiar Herkimer Road property
The company’s Utica page identifies the business as Brightwaters Farms, with an “s,” at 1113 Herkimer Road. Its description of the larger property includes more than 100 acres and over 750,000 square feet of greenhouse space. Those figures describe the facility as a whole.
The site’s roots reach back more than a century. According to Brightwaters Farms’ company history, the former C.F. Baker and Sons operation was founded in 1923. The Quintal and DeRitis families completed their purchase of the Utica property in spring 2015.
That history helps place the fire at a long-established agricultural property within the city. The company’s general website describes growing and distribution operations, but it is not a dated assessment of conditions after Saturday’s fire.
Where to check before visiting
Anyone planning a business visit or delivery should confirm access directly with the Utica location. The company lists 315-266-0290 on its Utica contact page. The available reports do not establish whether routine access or deliveries have changed.
Reporting note: Incident details are attributed to the Daily Sentinel and WKTV. A separate public fire department release was not located. Company pages supply the address and historical background. The accompanying images are original informational graphics, not photographs of the fire.
