House fire reported on Boyd Road, Pavilion
Submitted by Howard Owens on July 17, 2011 - 12:21am
Callers reported seeing smoke in the area of 7450 Boyd Road, Covington, and Pavilion chiefs responded to investigate. Upon approach, they spotted a large column of smoke and an orange glow. Once on scene, the first chief confirmed it is a fully involved garage fire.
The fire has spread to the house.
Besides Pavilion, Alexander, Le Roy and Stafford are responding along with the City of Batavia Fast Team. Mutual aid is also requested from departments in Wyoming County.
UPDATE 12:22 a.m.: City of Batavia's Fourth Platoon requested to stand by at the fire hall.
UPDATE 12:44 a.m.: The fire is pretty much knocked down. Crews checking for extensions and interior firefighters preparing to enter. It is believed all occupants are out.
UPDATE 12:50 a.m.: Red Cross requested to the scene to assist two adults.
- Howard Owens's blog
- Login or register to post comments
July 18, 2011 - 5:13am
#2
I have a question for the fire chief of Pavillion.
The fire was called in approx. 30 minutes before they responded to the fire. Why did it take so long to get a crew together so this family could watch their home go up in flames?
I am an ex-volunteer fire fighter from Chautauqua Co.. Our response times were 3-5 minutes.
Today, We will be setting up an account for the family and their animals who lost their home. This family is well known at the Pok A Dot and very loved and respected. They lost all of their belongings. The man is also an Army Veteran who lost his motorcycle, car,lawnmowers and so much more. All of us at the Pok A Dot are grateful to know they are alive. But the financial burden is great.
Anyone who has a heart and knows these people, Robert and Nancy Krebs, also know Blondie. Blondie is their loving pet and they have a cat that survived the fire also. Don't think for one second I won't be the first in line to donate what I can... Because, I and several others have. They've had several volunteers to help pick up debri. But, it won't be enough until we can help clear a path for them to start over.
Open your hearts. If you meet these people, you'll understand why it's so very important to me and the rest of their friends and family.
Thank you and let's take care of our American Veteran's! They gave us a chance to be free. Now give this family a chance for HOPE from you!
July 18, 2011 - 9:12am
#3
I heard this call come in. There were crews on scene within minutes of the alarm going out. When the call was made, the garage was already fully involved. By the time the first chief got on scene, which was about less two minutes after the call went out, there was already extension into the attached house.
The notion that the response time took 30 minutes doesn't fit the reality of events. Notice the time stamps here -- the fire was knocked down within 25 minutes of the initial call. That sounds like a hell of a firefighting effort to me.
July 18, 2011 - 9:21am
#4
I just the exact times from Tim Yaeger, Genesee County Emergency Services. Alarm sounded at 12:10 a.m. First chief on scene at 12:14 a.m.
And as I reported, fire was knocked down by 12:44 a.m.
July 18, 2011 - 9:45am
#5
Then I'm pretty sure your fire fighters were having a hell of a time getting there.
July 18, 2011 - 9:51am
#6
I don't get it. How does 4 minutes to respond to a fire and knocking it down within 25 minutes translate to a hell of a time getting there? Putting out a fire in 25 minutes is not fast?
July 18, 2011 - 9:52am
#7
double post, sorry
July 18, 2011 - 10:02am
#8
Maybe you should talk to the owners of the property.
July 18, 2011 - 2:27pm
#9
Regardless of the response time, the criticism is being aimed at volunteer firemen who sacrifice their time and risk their lives to protect our communities. This call came in at night (thumbs-up, Howard) on a Sunday, mid-July. One should look at the flip-side and be grateful a crew of volunteers could be assembled in 30 minutes or less.
It's one thing to be sympathetic to the family who suffered a house fire. Carrying those sentiments to the point of chastising the firemen for arriving late is not only unreasonable, but diminishes the esteem in which volunteer firemen should be held.
July 18, 2011 - 10:48am
#10
C.M., the call was at night. I imagine most of the guys responding where in bed when the alarm went out.
Based on my experience covering structure fires in the county for a couple of years -- probably a couple of dozen of them in that time -- the response time was quite good (I've yet to see a slow response time on a serious incident from any of the volunteer departments -- they're all pretty amazing when you consider they're volunteers who have lives outside of the department).
Any criticism leveled at the Pavilion Fire Department or any of the other volunteers is misplaced and misguided, regardless of the source. The actual facts speak for themselves. The response time was excellent.
July 18, 2011 - 2:56pm
#11
Thank you CM Barons. You are truly a man of many words. Your sentiments were just what needed to be heard. It burns me up to see just how long you can scold one person for finding out the REAL truth and only ONE person shows empathy???
Here's the facts!
I just came from the owners home... er lack there of! I saw and talk to the neighbors who asked the same question... Where is the fire department? Why is it taking them so long to get here? They were appauled at the time. I spent 9 years on the fire department. I worked, I got up in the wee hours of the morning for nursing home calls, possible smoke in the building, non-life threatening calls (toaster fires), not once did I say this isn't worth me going to. This was a SERIOUS incident as the Veteran of the home is on medicine and it burned in the house fire.
You talk to people about the actual facts. Have you talked to the actual people? The neighbors who took that picture that's in The Daily News? Showing the actual fire? Where were the fire fighters knocking down the fire? Have you talk to the Krebs who are living on that property and are waiting for you to come and talk to them. The very misplaced and misguided sources who woke up to the explosion, which thankfully Bobby Krebs saved his wife and their dog Blondie. NOT the fire department. Question the people who saw the Krebs who sat there with everything they owned destroyed and then you tell me how great Pavilion's time was. I saw a quite different picture today. I saw a broken man and woman who had everything burn down in front of him while everyone watched and were taking pictures. Yes, there are pictures of the fire for the time no one was there.
Those are the Facts and the Reality.
July 18, 2011 - 3:11pm
#12
Lisa, I've presented the facts. You've presented gossip.
My statements in no way show any lack of sympathy for Bob and his family (I'm a customer at the Pok-A-Dot, too, you know). But my job is to deal in facts and truth. When people come on posting false information, as you did, part of my role is to correct it.
The chronology as documented by this site and dispatch records speak for themselves. There is no getting around the facts as well documented.
As for the pictures in the Daily, they were taken by Jay Lynch, a former volunteer firefighter who often shows up to scenes on the eastern side of the county to take pictures for the Genesee County Firewire. The pictures clearly show firefighters on scene battling the flames.
July 18, 2011 - 3:32pm
#13
Really. I would love to meet you. Do you in fact know of the owner? Her name? How well she knows her customers? How well she knows of the Krebs? Or are you just there for the gossip yourself Howard?
We are a pretty tight knit group of people who have fun and laugh. I can't believe you think it's all just gossip. Especially, as you say, you've been there. You call me a gossip? Come to the Dot. People know that I speak my mind and tell it like it is. Fake? That is the last thing you should be calling me. You have no idea who I am sir and I should expect an apology from you for calling me such. I received honors while in my fire department. I live for people who like to torment honest people who like to come together and laugh and talk amongst each other! You deprive such people by making the Dot a bad place.Just because you come to the dot, doesn't mean you know our family circle or friends.
Have you really been there or are you a FAKE?
July 18, 2011 - 3:36pm
#14
I haven't called you anything. I've merely stated the facts as I know them. At no point have I attacked you personally.
Typically, I'm in the Dot at least once a week, most often on a Thursday or Friday morning, time permitting, for breakfast. I usually sit at the counter. Ask Nicci or Jen. Ask Moose, ask John, ask Jeff, ask Ron, ask Dick.
July 18, 2011 - 5:24pm
#15
And you wonder why people don't volunteer? There are not all that many people who will volunteer and then people like Lisa complain.
Sure, everyone wants the fastest fire response possible. And if you're the property owner, fast may not be fast enough. But they are volunteers who have lives. They don't sit in the fire hall 24/7. They do the best they can, each and every time.
