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Grass fire spreading toward barn on Lyman Road, Byron

By Billie Owens

A grass fire is reportedly burning its way toward a barn at 6912 Lyman Road. Byron and South Byron fire departments are responding. The location is between Coward and Beaver Meadow roads.

UPDATE 5:09 p.m.: The dispatcher says a small building and several vehicles are now involved in the fire.

UPDATE 5:13 p.m.: The dispatcher says they are on the phone with "DEC police."

Cigarette likely cause of Elba structure fire

By Howard B. Owens

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A discarded cigarette is the likely cause of a fire that left burned out three residents of 5253 Bridge Road, Elba, out of their home last night, according to Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator.

Two dogs, a chinchilla and five kittens born to a barn cat and living in the basement, are believed to have perished in the fire.

No people were hurt in the fire.

The 140-year-old farm house was divided into two apartments.

At least two of the residents were smokers and were known to stand out behind the house, on the back porch, smoke, and deposit their butts in a plastic canister by the back door.

That's where the fire started.

The structure is still standing and the first floor remains accessible.  

This morning Alex Beardsley and a friend were pulling out the personal belongings of Beardsley and his brother. Beardsley said excluding clothing and books and anything else easily damaged by water, about 90 percent of their personal property was saved when firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the second floor.

Beardsley and his brother had a significant investment in the game Warhammer 40,000. That collection was largely undamaged.

One of the dogs that died in the fire belonged to Beardsley and his brother. The other lived with the upstairs resident.

The likely brand of cigarette that ignited the fire is Senecas. About half-a-decade ago there was some controversy around cigarettes manufactured by tribes and their lack of fire-safe features, but in 2009, the Seneca Nation announced all of their cigarettes would be fire safe.

A fire-safe cigarette will burn out more quickly when left unattended.

An employee of Zuber Farm, where the house is located, said the structure is a total loss and will be torn down.

Previously:

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Photos: Bridge Road fire

By Howard B. Owens

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Here's photos from this evening's fire at 5253 Bridge Road, Elba. At this point, we have no new information beyond what was in our initial post.

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To purchase prints, click here.

NOTE: In the past, when I had a group of photos to upload at night for a slide show, I would typically get the upload started and go to bed and post the slide show in the morning. It would take an hour, maybe two hours, depending on the size of the slide show, to upload the photos. Now we have broadband through Empire Access. It took only 10 minutes to upload this slide show.

House fire reported on Bridge Road, Elba

By Billie Owens

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A house fire is reported at 5263 Bridge Road, Elba. The location is between Norton and Transit roads. Elba fire dispatched.

UPDATE 8:33 p.m.: Bergen, Byron, Oakfield, South Byron and Stafford are called to provide mutual aid at the confirmed working house fire. Town of Batavia is requested to fill in at Elba's hall. Mercy medics are also called in.

UPDATE 8:39 p.m.: National Grid advised of the blaze, no ETA provided.

UPDATE 9:25 p.m.: Tankers from Alexander and East Pembroke requested to the scene. At least two of the three tankers called in are filling up at the ARC Center. Howard at the scene reports it is believed that one dog and two cats were on the property. Over the scanner, it is reported that a man is en route to pick up a dog located on Bridge Road. One of the two cats was seen jumping from a window of the burning house. "It is still standing," says Howard of the house, "but it appears to be a total loss. Flames are shooting from the roof."

UPDATE 10 p.m.: The property is owned by Zuber Farms. Firefighters will be there for awhile, doing overhaul. Howard is clearing the scene.

Fire reported near residence on East Road, Town of Batavia

By Billie Owens

An unknown-type fire is reported near a residence at 4596 East Road. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding. The location is between Creek and Putnam roads.

UPDATE 8:38 p.m.: The fire is out. The East Road assignment is in service.

Field on fire off Byron Road, Byron

By Billie Owens

A field fire is reported in the area of 6945 Byron Road. The location is between Tower Hill Road and Byron Elba TL Road. Byron and South Byron fire departments are responding.

UPDATE 7:40 p.m.: Fire is out. Byron and South Byron firefighters are back in service.

Grass fire reported on Cole Road, Byron

By Billie Owens

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A grass fire is reported at 6369 Cole Road. South Byron Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 7:49 p.m.: South Byron #86 is on scene.

UPDATE 8:44 p.m.: Byron Fire Department also responded. The fire is out and the responders are back in service.

UPDATE: Byron Chief Durkee sent in these pictures. Durkee said Byron arrived on scene first. He said, "These pictures were of the mop up. We had about a 100-yard stretch of fire that was barrelling into the marshes of the swamplands. The DEC officer ticketed the owner. There is still a no-burn law and people just don't seem to care. If this took off we would have been in a real battle."

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Structure fire reported on Gulf Road in Attica, Alexander is responding

By Billie Owens

A structure fire is reported at 942 Gulf Road, Attica. It's a two-story, wood-frame house. Attica fire is responding along with mutual aid from Alexander.

UPDATE 3:39 p.m.: The city's Fast Team is requested to the scene. The location is near McGrath Road.

UPDATE 3:44 p.m.: The city's First Platoon is called to headquarters. Alexander requests a crew from Darien to stand by in Darien's own fire hall.

UPDATE 3:56 p.m.: Town of Batavia fire is requested to stand by in Alexander's fire hall. East Pembroke is asked to fill in at Darien's fire hall.

UPDATE 4:22 p.m.: Darien is now requested to the scene.

UPDATE 4:55 p.m.: Bethany Fire Department is asked to fill in at Attica's fire hall.

Grass fire on westbound Thruway, East Pembroke fire responding

By Billie Owens

A grass fire is reported by the Thruway Authority at mile marker 398.5 westbound. East Pembroke fire is responding. The Weather Service has a red flag warning in effect due to low humidity and strong winds, which can cause fires to quickly get out of control.

UPDATE 12:16 p.m.: Fire is out. East Pembroke assignment is back in service.

Dryer on fire on Ivison Road, Stafford, creating heavy smoke in the residence

By Billie Owens

A possible dryer fire is reported at 7739 Ivison Road, Stafford. The caller reports heavy smoke in the house. Stafford fire is responding along with mutual aid from South Byron.

UPDATE 6:34: Responders on scene report nothing showing. The location is between Freeman Road and Route 33 (Clinton Street Road).

Fence fire on Bank Street

By Billie Owens

A fence is reportedly on fire at 361 Bank St. City firefighters are responding.

UPDATE 11:47 a.m.: Fire is out. City assignment back in service.

Field on fire on Bethany Center Road

By Billie Owens

A field fire is reported in the area of 10553 Bethany Center Road. Bethany Fire Department responding.

UPDATE 6:43 p.m.: No fire located. Assignment back in service.

Transformer on fire on Clinton Street Road, National Grid notified

By Billie Owens

A transformer on a primary power pole is confirmed on fire at 5263 Clinton Street Road. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding. National Grid is notified. A caller reported flames "like a flamethrower" shooting from the pole.

Same vacant house on fire again on Snyder Road, Elba

By Billie Owens

A vacant structure fire is reported for the third time in a week at 6616 Snyder Road, Elba. Elba fire is responding to the "rekindle" along with mutual aid from Oakfield.

UPDATE 12:45 p.m.: Fire is out. Elba assignment is back in service.

 

House reportedly filling with smoke in Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

Oakfield Fire is being dispatched to 14 Orchard St. for the report of a house filling with smoke.

UPDATE 11:04 a.m.: There is apparently a sewer test in the neighborhood. All equipment, stage in quarters.

Cat rescued, State Street family displaced by fire

By Howard B. Owens

As firefighters finished extinguishing a fire that started in a back room on the second floor of the home at 122 State St., Adrian's biggest worry was for the safety of his cat, Prince Charming.

So named because he was the lone kitten born to his mother. He's a special cat.

Adrian's mother, Carla Laird, stood at the threshold of their house and called. She had managed to get the family's two dogs and another cat out once she became aware of the fire, but Prince had jumped from her arms and hid under the couch and wasn't coming out. 

Two firefighters were dispatched to try and find Prince Charming and minutes later they emerged with him in a cat carrier.

There were hugs all around, including from Adrian's uncle, Chris (top photo).

No people were hurt, no animals were lost in the fire of still undetermined origin. Carla and Adrian were getting ready to leave the house when the fire started. Carla's daughter was not home at the time.

The house was damaged enough that the Red Cross has been called to assist the family and their pets.

For more on the fire, read our initial report.

House fire reported on State Street in the city

By Billie Owens

A house fire is reported at 122 State St., upper apartment. City of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 1:53 p.m.: "There's a possibility of a person trapped inside the apartment," says a dispatcher. "We have an open (phone) line and can hear a person still inside." Heavy smoke is showing and flames are shouting out of the rear window, says a firefighter on scene.

UPDATE 1:55 p.m.: City command reports everyone is out of the structure, then calls for a second alarm.

UPDATE 1:58 p.m.: Darien, Alexander Fast Team, and all available city fire manpower called in. Town of Batavia fire is to stage in its quarters.

UPDATE 2:02 p.m.: Command reports fire knocked down. Darien's response is cancelled. Alexander is continuing to the scene. National Grid has been notified. Mercy medics are on scene in case needed.

UPDATE 2:29 p.m.: The American Red Cross will be contacted to respond to the scene.

Trailer filled with smoke on Overlook Drive, Batavia

By Billie Owens

A trailer is reportedly filled with smoke on Overlook Drive, Batavia. One person is still inside the structure. Town of Batavia fire is responding.

UPDATE 6:30 a.m.: We didn't hear any more transmissions on this incident, so we spoke with a dispatcher. The incident was smoke from cooking and the fire department has cleared the scene.

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