Charlton Orchards questioning fire department's response

CHARLTON, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- The owners of the Charlton Winery destroyed by arson are questioning the fire department's response.
    
FOX25's Michael Henrich obtained call logs that show it took 21 minutes from the first 911 calls for a fire engine to show up at Charlton Orchards. The owners say fire crews were dispatched to the wrong location.

The owners also say the town's tanker broke down once it arrived. It took another 40 minutes for tankers to get water from a hydrant almost two miles away, even though there is a hydrant less than half a mile away from the orchard, and a large pond on the property.
    
Charlton's fire chief did not comment on the response to the fire.

Investigators consider the fire to be suspicious and the Arson Watch Reward Program initially offered a reward of up to $5,000.

The owner, Nathan Benjamin, says that most of the public doesn't realize their orchard is still open. The winery had 70-percent and 50-percent drops in sales in August and September.

Cox Media Group