Cause of Camp Bow Wow Clifton Park blaze unknown

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

Firefighters pour water Monday on Camp Bow Wow at 1739 Route 9 in Clifton Park.

The cause of a massive fire that destroyed a soon-to-be day care for dogs on Monday night is still unknown.

About 8:30 p.m. Monday, the Clifton Park Fire Department, along with multiple other departments including the West Crescent Fire Department and the Hillcrest Fire Department, responded to a blaze at the former Giffy’s barbecue building at 1739 Route 9. A section of the road was closed off as firefighters tried to gain control of the flames.

The building was weeks away from opening as a newly renovated and expanded Camp Bow Wow, a boarding facility for dogs. Giffy’s had moved into a new building on the same site as the nearby Powers Inn and Pub in Clifton Park.

The investigation into what caused the fire is continuing, Clifton Park Fire Chief Art Hunsinger said. Investigators were at the site Tuesday afternoon. The building was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and no firefighters were injured while extinguishing the flames.

When the fire started has yet to be determined, Hunsinger said, but it was under control by about 9 p.m.

The building was destroyed.

Camp Bow Wow, a national franchise, has a location in Albany. The Clifton Park Planning Board granted approval of the Camp Bow Wow project in March. The building was being completely converted for the new business, and a 3,235-square-foot addition was going to be added to the rear of the existing building. Outdoor enclosed play areas were going to be constructed in the existing parking lot. It was going to be able to hold up to 70 dogs.

Matt Beck, the owner of the Clifton Park Camp Bow Wow, said the building had been outfitted with an extensive sprinkler system, but it would not have been turned on until construction was almost finished.

He said he hoped to rebuild eventually.

“Time will tell,” he said about whether rebuilding would ultimately be possible.