FNN Article Update © Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Images provided by Leslie Baxter © June 18, 2024 & Galen Martin © June 18, 2024.

ANSONIA, PA – The historic Coach Stop Inn was quickly destroyed early Tuesday morning, June 18, 2024, when the restaurant section of the main two story building was reported to be fully involved in flames around 12:15 AM.

The main building of the Coach Stop Inn served as a Stage Coach Stop, a Tavern, an Inn, housed the Post Office and was even a private residence at one time. It was stated that in 1832 travelers began arriving at the doors back in the day and have been coming to that location since. Over the decades the original building grew to include a tavern, dining room and ten interior corridor guest rooms.

In September of 2013, there was a grand reopening at the business as it grew. According to property records, the business is assessed at $1,027,580 and owned by Mansonia LLC & Kansonia LLC out of Maryland.

FNN learned that the Maryland owners came up during the weekend and posted that the tavern of the building was recently opened to the public on Saturday, June 15, 2024. The Coach Stop Inn was opened to the public on May 17, 2024, in time for the tourist season.

Fire departments from Goodyear Hose Company out of Galeton, Wellsboro Fire Department, and Mansfield Hose Company were the first units to be dispatched at 12:20 AM to a structure fire at the Coach Stop Inn (Motel) located at 4755 Route 6.

Galeton fire personnel arrived on scene and reported the main building to be well involved around 12:22 AM.

The second alarm called for mutual aid from Middlebury Township Volunteer Fire Department, Morris Fire Department, Clymer Hose Company out of Sabinsville, as well as Blossburg Fire Department’s Rehab Unit and Fire Coordinators. Later an engine from Crary Hose Company was requested to respond with a tanker, as was Chatham Fire Department out of Little Marsh.

Wellsboro fire personnel started arriving on scene around 12:34 AM and they confirmed the building fully involved.

A water supply was established by a Wellsboro fire crew at Marsh Creek Road and the Ansonia Bridge so crews could refill and supply firefighters with water to battle the blaze.

During the fire Route 6 was closed as firefighters worked. Traffic control was set up using a detour that was set up using Route 6 and Long Run Road (Route 349) to Gaines and Routes 49 and 249 to Westfield.

At 12:57 AM firefighters had to move to a defensive attack on the burning building.

A number of departments were called upon to stand by for others, here is an unconfirmed list – Lawrenceville Fire Department was requested to stand by for Wellsboro, Coudersport Fire Department was to stand by for Galeton, Harrison Valley Fire Department was to stand by for Westfield and Sabinsville. Big Elm out of Daggett was requested to stand by for Mansfield as of 1:49 AM.

An excavator was requested from Frome’s Excavating in Gaines, just before 2:00 AM.

First unit to head back to their station was the tanker from Chatham Fire Department which went out of service around 2:24 AM. Fire units from Morris were next to return home twenty minutes later.

After two hours of battling this blaze the fire was reported under control at 2:46 AM. Around that same time, a requested was made by Wellsboro Command to have the 911 Center to contact the Fire Marshal.

After two and half hours an excavator arrived on scene at 3:14 AM so firefighters could move debris, extinguish flames faster and put out hot spots that kept fueling the flames.

Mansfield fire units headed back to their department around 3:42 AM.

The fire was finally reported out by 3:48 AM, which also marked the third hour that fire crews had been at the fire scene.

Knoxville rehab unit was cleared from the scene just at 4:10 AM and Crary Hose Company was cleared by 4:17 AM.

Remaining fire crews were finally able to head back to their stations by 4:32 AM, the area was taped off and the debris will smolder for some time. Route 6 was also reopened by that time.

The Coach Stop Inn was completely destroyed in this blaze.

Around 5:10 AM Wellsboro fire units were heading back to the fire scene for a rekindle. Wellsboro fire crews arrived back at the fire scene around 5:30 AM and they extinguished the flare up by 6:19 AM and returned to their station.

It was reported that someone may have suffered minor burns prior to the fire departments arriving on scene. However, FNN could not confirm if anyone was transported to the hospital for treatment.

The cause of the fire was not provided, however, with the extent of the damage and use of the excavator finding a cause may be impossible.

Great job by everyone on scene and those crews who stood by for those departments that were fought to extinguish the fire.