Barryville fire fatality

By FRITZ MAYER

BARRYVILLE, NY — When firefighters arrived on the scene at the Hickory Haven Lodge in Barryville, the caretaker’s house was already fully involved with flames shooting out of the windows.

According to Yulan fire chief Tim Schadt, the fire was spotted by an assistant fire chief at about 8:00 in the morning, and called in. Yulan responded along with fire companies from Highland Lake, Shohola, PA, and Lumberland, and were able to bring the fire under control within 30 to 45 minutes.

According to Schadt, firefighters had received reports that there might be a victim inside, and they found the body after entering the building.

At about 11:30 a.m., firefighters were still putting out hot spots near the chimney where the victim was located. Schadt said the fire was under investigation, and it was too early to know what started the blaze. He also said that the victim to that point had not positively been identified, though the house was occupied by a male caretaker, Rutherford Betsch, 59.

The lodge, which has 14 guest rooms and two suites, is owned by Agnes Makay and Attila Benke, who also own the Carriage House Restaurant in Barryville.

The Lodge was struck by tragedy more than two years ago when the previous owners, George and Toni Kowski, were involved in a traffic accident. On January 6, 2006, when on their way home from a birthday dinner, the couple’s pickup truck rolled down an embankment and killed Toni, who was 61 years old.