Historic building on Swan Street ablaze
Submitted by Billie Owens on May 8, 2010 - 8:07pm
There is a structure fire at the Wiard Plow Co. building at 33 Swan St. in the City of Batavia. Firefighters are on scene, opening up the building to vent the smoke. The roof is afire with 20-foot flames. A second ladder is requested. A crew from Alexander is requested to fill in for the City of Batavia as standby. Looky-loos are posing an impediment to the firefighting efforts.
The fire is engulfing the rear of the structure. There was an apparent arson there earlier this afternoon.
"From everything I can see the main sturcture is OK but there's a lot of embers flying around. A good chunk of the rear of the building fell down," reports a firefighter.
All firefighting manpower from the city and town of Batavia are called to the scene.
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May 8, 2010 - 8:51pm
#2
I can see flames inside the factory. The roof line closest to U.S. Chrome is now smoking. I posted pictures.
A fire truck just left the scene with sirens screaming, there must be another call in the city.
I saw wisps of smoke coming from the building, then it got more intense. I called dispatch (911) but the person thought I was reporting a previous fire. I called back a few seconds later to let them know that flames were evident.
update: flames now broke through the roof line. the entire back roof is on fire. Smoke is also coming from the front of that building now.
update: The police moved the lookers away from the U.S. Chrome parking lot. They have moved into the 400 Towers' parking lot. If an ambulance needs to get to the towers, they will be blocked by lookers.
I can see a fire truck letting out more hose. The firefighters on the ladder truck seem to be concentrating on the front of the building now.
May 8, 2010 - 8:59pm
#3
I have some pictures of the fire on my phone. How do I post them??
May 8, 2010 - 9:40pm
#4
Is this the same fire they had put out earlier the afternoon..
May 8, 2010 - 9:56pm
#5
"There was an arson there earlier this afternoon."
May 9, 2010 - 6:40am
#6
a
May 8, 2010 - 10:00pm
#7
Same site.Second fire.
May 8, 2010 - 10:05pm
#8
Michael,
this is that very building, like you said brinks have been falling from there for years and not much was done.
May 8, 2010 - 10:08pm
#9
Let's all just hope and pray that all our fireman,medics,and police officers stay safe through this.
May 8, 2010 - 10:12pm
#10
Rebecca,
you are right, lets all pray that they will be safe!!
They have had a busy day today!
May 8, 2010 - 10:19pm
#11
Are you sure it includes the brick office building right on Swan? And if it does, did it start there? I saw a video on Facebook and YOUtube, but it looks like it is the warehouse areas further back off of Swan. The building I am talking about is right on Swan right in front of US Chrome's parking lot.
May 8, 2010 - 10:27pm
#12
It is the wiard plow factory, not the office building. I don't see any damage to the office, but morning will tell more.
http://www.thebatavian.com/blogs/bea/wiard-plow-fire/15583
May 8, 2010 - 10:32pm
#13
Michael,
can you post the youtube video?? I could not find it!
Thank you!
May 8, 2010 - 10:34pm
#14
I just came from Batavia picking a pizza up,and there was a small excavator on a tractor trailer pulling out of WNY Concrete parking lot heading west-I assume it's going to the fire scene,as they don't haul them at night usually-there was a Stafford pumper in front of 400 Towers-they had Liberty St. blocked off as well.I went down Harvester-the smoke was blowing into street there-as they said-luckily it is a cold damp night-this could have been a disaster if it wasn't.
May 8, 2010 - 10:42pm
#15
Tony Ferrando posted a few videos on FB. Maybe he'll post them here too.
May 8, 2010 - 10:44pm
#16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMkAXOEuK2o
Here is the YOUTUBE address for the Swan street Fire video. Not sure how I can post the actual link on here so this will work. Just copy and paste it into your web browswer. Video by Tony Ferrando.
May 8, 2010 - 10:53pm
#17
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_hQ9B6ZHEo
Here is another video also by Tony Ferrando.
May 8, 2010 - 11:22pm
#18
Just going out on a limb here, could be total coincidence...but I find it a bit strange that this happens right after you post an article about a rare wiard plow going up for auction
May 9, 2010 - 12:04am
#19
Posted by Bob Price on May 8, 2010 - 10:34pm
I just came from Batavia picking a pizza up,and there was a small excavator on a tractor trailer pulling out of WNY Concrete parking lot heading west-I assume it's going to the fire scene,as they don't haul them at night usually-
The excavator is doing it's thing as I type this. Almost half the building is gone. By morning the landscape of Batavia will be changed. I wonder what my view, from the tower, will be after that building is leveled?
