Callicoon, NY - Fire Threatens Over 600 Passover Guest At Villa Roma Hotel

Sullivan County, Callicoon, NY - More than a dozen fire companies were on the scene of a working structure fire last night and early this morning at the Villa Roma hotel.

Sullivan County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Paul Pratti said the fire started in the bakery area of the resort, which was preparing to house more than 600 guests for the Passover holiday.
The flames were about 50 yards from where the hotel's rooms are located. Pratti said there were 60 to 70 guests staying at the hotel at the time.
Flames could be seen from miles away, Pratti said; and more than 90 minutes after the fire began, large flames were still shooting out of the structure.

Fire departments and numerous ambulance squads from throughout Sullivan County were at the blaze, including Liberty and Monticello.
Louis Alvarez, operations officer for the hotel, was with other hotel officials at the scene last night. They had not ruled out the possibility that they could still accommodate the Passover crowd.
Most of the guests for Passover were arriving tomorrow afternoon and Friday morning. Close to 500 people have booked reservations.
Alvarez said they will make a determination in the morning about whether it's safe for the guests to be able to eat in the dining room and what kind of damage took place in the main kitchen. Much of the decision will be based on how much smoke damage there is to the dining room. They can place guests in various conference rooms to eat, Alvarez said.

The guests who were at the hotel last night were evacuated to The Lodge on the hotel property and in time-share units, both of which are independent structures away from the main building. No injuries were reported.