After fire, neighbors fear the loss of a friend

DELANSON -- Ron and Donna Jones say they have been neighbors of Daniel Bartlett for 37 years.

They say it is shocking to think their friend may have died in the fire that destroyed his pole barn garage in Delanson Saturday night.

They say some firefighters told them Bartlett - who the Joneses say lived alone at 1132 Thousand Acres Road - is the man whose body was found in a pick-up truck that was in the barn when the fire began.

State police issued a news release Sunday saying the identity of the victim was still under investigation and that an autopsy was scheduled for that day. A call to NYSP Troop G spokeswoman Maureen Tuffey late Sunday was not returned. State and county investigator were looking into what caused the fire.

According to the Joneses, all of Bartlett's vehicles (or the remains of them) - including an old Dodge Charger - were still on the property, he didn't answer his cell phone nor return their calls and they did not see him Sunday.  Late Sunday night, Bartlett's house was completely darkened and yellow police tape was stretched across the driveway and the space where the barn used to stand.

The fire call came at 9:08 Saturday, according to the Delanson Fire Department.

One of the fire chiefs on scene Saturday said the initial call indicated a differenet 1092 Thousand Acres Road because that was the source of the emergency call.

Three firefighters said there were several explosions which they attributed to propane tanks.

Duanesburg Fire Chief Ken Griffin said at one point the fire was so large firefighters had to be pulled back to take cover in front of the house, putting the house between them and the burning barn.

Firefighters at the scene said the fire burned long after the barn was gone because there were many cords of firewood in the barn.