fire

City firefighters are on scene at 14 W. Main St., Genesee Justice, after the smell of smoke was reported coming from the attic. Command says it is electrical in nature and that they "will be here awhile" investigating.

UPDATE 8:16 a.m.: The smoke is coming from a burned out motor of some kind in the attic. Maintenance personnel will handle it. City fire is leaving the scene. Assignment back in service.

A possible electrical fire in the wall is reported at the McDonald's restaurant on West Main Street. City fire is responding. An employee told dispatch that the business was not being closed.

UPDATE 10:47 a.m.: Small electrical problem in the office. The breaker has been tripped. Maintenance will be responding to fix it. City fire is back in service.

A possible vehicle fire is reported on Vine Street, across from John Kennedy School.

Batavia fire is responding.

UPDATE 9:40 p.m.: No fire. Smoke from oil leaking on a manifold.

A call has come in for a possible fire in the attic at 3885 W. Main Street Road, Batavia.

Town of Batavia fire dispatched.

UPDATE 8:41 a.m.: Chief on scene. Light smoke showing.

UPDATE 8:42 a.m.: Confirmed fire in the structure. All available man power to the scene.

UPDATE 9:25 a.m.: National Grid on scene.

UPDATE 9:56 a.m.: Red Cross requested to the scene. Two adults and five children need housing for "just a couple of days," a chief says. No clothing needed.

UPDATE: This morning's fire could have been much worse, according to Chief Paul Barrett and resident Shawn Gaylord.

Gaylord's wife smelled the smoke and found the fire. Gaylord was just returning home and he and his wife were going to go right back out and be gone for four or five hours.

If she hadn't have smelled the smoke before they left ...

Gaylord started fighting the fire before the first fire trucks were on scene, using an extinquisher and containers of water.

The effort definately helped said the Town of Batavia chief.

"I didn't stop him from fighting the fire because it was working so well until the city got here just ahead of our truck, 30 seconds ahead of our truck," Barrett said.

City fire was dispatched because the slippery roads made it a little harder to get a driver to the Town of Batavia's fire hall to get an engine rolling.

The fire was contained to an upstairs bathroom and bedroom area, caused about $10,000 in damage, Barrett said, and was definitely electrical in origin.

The meter has been pulled and electric repairs and inspection will be necessary before the house can be occupied again.

The property is owned by Timothy Dancy.

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A house fire is reported at 74 S. Lake Ave. in the Village of Bergen. Bergen fire is responding along with mutual aid from Le Roy.

UPDATE 4:56 p.m.: A responder on scene reports the occupant says the basement is full of smoke. Investigating.

UPDATE 4:58 p.m.: Smoke is confirmed in the basement, but no flames showing.

UPDATE 5:01 p.m.: Fire Police will shut down the Four Corners in Bergen "as soon as the train goes by." All Le Roy equipment is cancelled, as well as a fill in unit from Churchville.

UPDATE 5:03 p.m.: Sounds like the problem is the furnace.

UPDATE 5: 25 p.m.: The Bergen command puts the assignment back in service.

A snow blower is on fire near the house at 1055 Sliker Road. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding. The location is between Gilmore and Hopkins roads.

UPDATE 11:30 a.m.: A Pembroke firefighter on scene reports the fire may be out. Investigating.

UPDATE 11:32 a.m.: Pembroke command confirms the fire is out. Units can stand down. The assignment is back in service.

Automatic alarms of fire and water flow are sounding at both Petco and Bed, Bath & Beyond on Veterans Memorial Drive. The Town of Batavia Fire Department command is on scene. A responder says it appears "the pump is not running" at BBB.

They have entered both stores and silenced the alarms at BBB, where there is no water flow or "obvious signs of fire." At Petco, same situation, but the burglar alarm went off, they noted probably because of their entry.

Engine 21 just arrived. All other equipment is told to remain in quarters.

UPDATE 4:01 a.m.: Reps for both businesses are responding in about 30 to 40 minutes.

UPDATE 4:18 p.m.: Everything checks out. One door or something which was supposed to be locked up was "found unsecured." Command says they are leaving it like they found it. Corps command will remain on scene until the reps arrive. The others are leaving the scene and the town's assignment is back in service. Petco reopened yesterday after some fire-related rehab due to the recent blaze in the bedding department of the store next door, BBB, which remains closed for now.

A furnace explosion, with smoke showing, is reported at 6394 Searls Road in Byron. Byron Fire Department is responding. Other units from other departments were called, but command on scene said they could stand down.

A dryer fire is reported at 1 Shady Lane, Batavia.

Town of Batavia is responding.

UPDATE 10:18 a.m.: Fire is knocked down. Remaining units responding can respond non-emergency.

Investigators are still trying determine what caused a fire that started in the bedding department of Bed, Bath & Beyond late Monday afternoon.

The fire caused extensive damage to the fixtures and inventory in the northeast corner of the store.

Flames reached floor to ceiling.

The Sheriff's Office is in charge of the investigation.

Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster said investigators have interviewed employees and customers.

Physical material in the store has also been examined for any clues as to the cause of the fire.

Previously: Firefighters battle flames and cold during fire at Bed, Bath & Beyond

A small fire, possibly caused by a cigarette, is reported on the porch of a residence on South Main Street.

Batavia fire is responding.

UPDATE 8:25 p.m.: The fire is out. Light smoke in the house.

A water flow alarm has sounded at Bed Bath & Beyond on Veterans Memorial Drive in the Town of Batavia. In addition, the smoke detector and "fire pump alarm" are also reported to be going off. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding. Yesterday a blaze tore through the store's bedding department.

Within minutes of the fire call about a blaze in the bedding department of Bed, Bath & Beyond, in Batavia Towne Center, the store was filled with heavy black smoke that was roiling out of the front and back doors.

The visibility was low, making it difficult for the first firefighters on scene to get to the fire location.

"There was heavy smoke, but once the crew got in there they confirmed a working fire," said Town of Batavia Fire's 1st Assistant Chief Dan Coffey.

Much of the bedding department was destroyed by fire. The rest of the store's inventory and fixtures suffered heavy smoke and water damage.

The store's sprinkler system did activate, which Coffey said helped suppress the fire, but it took firefighters to actually knock down the flames. The rest of the next couple of hours on scene was spent clearing out smoke from Bed, Bath & Beyond and Petco.

"We got a quick knock down and then we were trying to clear smoke and improve the visibility of what we were doing," Coffey said.

There were employees -- Coffey didn't know how many -- who were evaluated for possible smoke inhalation.

Both stores remain closed.

"The fire investigation has already started and there's significant fire, smoke and water damage in there, so I imagine it's going to be some time (before Bed, Bath & Beyond reopens)," Coffey said.

Coffey described the bedding fire as pretty hot, with the material able to pack a heavy fire load.

"If you've been in there, you've seen, the bedding is stacked from floor to ceiling on those storage racks, so there's a tremendous amount of heat," Coffey said. "It's certainly a concern for us."

Adding to the fire-fighting difficulties was the icy weather. The air was biting and the fire hydrants frozen shut.

Three tankers from neighboring departments were requested to the scene, something that wouldn't have been necessary, Coffey said, if the hydrants hadn't frozen.

Assisting Town of Batavia at the scene were City of Batavia, Alexander, Elba, Oakfield, East Pembroke and Darien.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Investigators are conducting interviews, examining the physical evidence and it's possible store surveillance tapes may provide a clue to the cause.

"It's way to early," Coffey said soon after the smoke had cleared. "We're trying to talk to employees who were in the area at the time and try to determine the cause."

UPDATE 11:47 p.m.: Investigators have been on scene through the evening and into the night. There is no definitive cause, officials say. The Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation.

(Initial Report)

The front door soon after the fire was pronounced knocked down with the store still filled with heavy black smoke. Normally, you would be able to see into the store from this angle. Pictured, East Pemborke's Stephen Smelski.

Heavy smoke at the back of the building.

A frozen fire hydrant.

A Town of Batavia volunteer, Mike Jones, prepares Ladder 25 for extension of the platform.

Firefighter Scott Maloy shortly after exiting the building.

A firefighter tries to get one of the frozen hydrants going.

Firefighters at the back of the building.

Smoke being cleared from the storage room.

A firefighter on the roof of Bed, Bath & Beyond. Pictured, Jason Holman.

Firefighter Andrew Mullen waiting by the back door for other crew members who will head back in to make further checks on the fire scene, with most of the smoke cleared from the store.

East Pembroke's engine in front of the store as crews begin to roll up hose.

A fire is reported in the bedding department of Bed, Bath & Beyond, on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia.

It's the second call in Town of Batavia's district. Batavia and East Pembroke responding.

UPDATE 4:54 p.m.: The fire was reported out about 10 minutes ago, but there's still heavy smoke showing from the building. The fire hydrants are frozen so tankers have been requested from Batavia, Oakfield and Alexander and possibily other departments. City fire is one scene.

UPDATE 5:58 p.m.: The store has been ventilated. The town's assignment is back in service. Code enforcement is on scene.

UPDATE: 10:55 p.m.: Town of Batavia is still on scene and the fire investigation is ongoing.

UPDATE 3:31 p.m. to clarify family information.

A family of three has been displaced and is being helped by the Red Cross after a structure fire early Sunday morning heavily damaged their kitchen and another room at 33 Central Ave., Batavia.

The fire started, said City Fire Chief Jim Maxwell, after a resident left cooking oil unattended while it heated. She intended to make chicken wings.

The fire was reported at 12:42 a.m.

The biggest concern, Maxwell said, was that the resident said her daughter may have been trapped in an upstairs bedroom.

Firefighters conducted two searches of the residence and were unable to locate the 16-year-old.

It turned out she was not home and was located and found safe a short time later.

All Batavia platoons were dispatched to the fire, with a total of 20 firefighters responding. No mutual aid from neighboring departments was requested. The fire department was back in service at 3:30 a.m.

The fire did extensive damage to the kitchen and an adjoining room. The structural damage was significant enough to require a code enforcement officer to condemn the house.

The fire caused $20,000 in damage.

Brycea Bolster and her family have been relocated to a local hotel for three days.

They also had three cats and a dog. The pets are all safe.

The property owner is Deborah Ruhland.

A possible structure fire is reported at 4535 W. Saile Drive, a barn behind Michelle's Bakery.

Smoke is seen coming from the structure.

Town of Batavia fire dispatched.

UPDATE 7:28 a.m.: A chief on scene reports the fire may have burned itself out. Responding units can come in non-emergency.

UPDATE 7:30 a.m.: It turns out to be a vehicle fire. The vehicle has been removed from the building. The structure is not involved.

UPDATE 7:37 a.m.: Fire is knocked down. Assignment being held to Engine 24.

UPDATE 8:14 a.m.: Town of Batavia back in service. Fire contained to vehicle. Smoke damage to the building.

A house fire is reported at 2884 E. Shelby Road, between Burns and Crane roads. Fire is "in the wall with flames seen." Oakfield Fire Department is responding, along with mutual aid from Alabama, Town of Batavia and Elba.

UPDATE 2:17 p.m.: Upon arriving, the fire chief reports no fire seen.

UPDATE 2:21 p.m.: The chief is holding everything to equipment already in route. Cancelling Town of Batavia.

UPDATE 2:29 p.m.: Alabama and Elba units returning, in service.

A house fire is reported at 9284 Robbins Road. Le Roy Fire Department is responding along with a Le Roy ambulance and a ladder truck from Bergen.

UPDATE 8:15 p.m.:  A responder reports it's a kitchen stove fire.

UPDATE 8:18 p.m. (by Howard): A chief requests a thermal camera. "It may have gotten up into the ceiling," he says. The City of Batavia's Fast Team is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 8:22 p.m. (by Howard): Pavilion responding. Stafford requested to Le Roy's hall.

UPDATE 8:24 p.m.: Interior firefighter reports the fire is knocked down. Checking for extensions.

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A working structure fire is reported at 4054 W. Main Steet Road, the Sunset Motel, Room #12. All available manpower is requested out of the Town of Batavia Fire Department. The motel has been evacuated.

UPDATE 2:53 a.m.: A crew from Oakfield is requested to fill in at Batavia's Station #1.

UPDATE 3:02 a.m.: "We've got to get ahold of this room," says a firefighter as the crews work to contain the fire to Room 12. "...We've got to vent this roof. I don't know how far it's got across these eaves." Smoke is showing from the north gable end.

UPDATE 3:07 a.m.: An engine and manpower from East Pembroke is called to the scene.

UPDATE 3:12 a.m.: There's no evidence of eastward extension of the blaze. They've vented the roof.

UPDATE 3:14 a.m.: National Grid is called in.

UPDATE 3:21 a.m.: Town code enforcement officer Dan Lang is called in, along with the American Red Cross to assist the motel dwellers. "The (motel) owner has no idea where the electrical shut off is," says a firefighter. No ETA for National Grid. A second ambulance is requested, a male with difficulty breathing will likely need to be transported to a hospital.

UPDATE 3:23 a.m.: Command reports fire is out. "Code enforcement Gerald is responding."

UPDATE 3:27 a.m.: They broke a lock to access the electrical circuit panel, which is located at the rear of the motel's west end. There is still smoke in the crawl space.

UPDATE 3:28 a.m.: The smoke in the crawl space is getting heavier. A thermal camera will be used to try and locate its source.

UPDATE 3:44 a.m. (by Howard): The building will need to be vacated for the night. Lodging is needed for the residents of at least four rooms.

UPDATE 4:12 a.m. (by Howard): Some units being put back in service.

UPDATE 4:43 a.m.: Town of Batavia is back in service. Firefighters contained the fire to a single room. Two tenants need to be relocated.

A chimney fire is reported at 7231 Lyman Road, Bergen.

Bergen fire is responding with mutual from Le Roy.

The first chief on scene reports smoke coming from the structure.

At the same time as this call, Le Roy has a call in the village for medical assistance. Pavilion is being dispatched mutual aid.

UPDATE 6:54 p.m.: Le Roy is back in service.

UPDATE 7:14 p.m.: Bergen is back in service.