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Small fire on roof at VA Medical Center, Batavia

By Billie Owens

A small fire is reported on the northwest corner of the roof on Building #4 at the VA Medical Center, located at 222 Richmond Ave. in Batavia. City firefighters are on scene and they report "there's a little smoke up there."

UPDATE 2:30 p.m.: The third platoon is called to stand by in the city fire hall.

UPDATE 2:34 p.m.: The small fire is described as "smoldering" and stems from roofing work. They are checking for extensions now.

UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: The fire is knocked down and they continue to check for extensions, reporting there is still some smoke coming from what is described as a balcony area.

UPDATE 2:50 p.m.: They plan to use a chainsaw to open up a portion of the roof to ensure there is no extension inside.

UPDATE 3:10 p.m.: The blaze is believed to have started when a worker used a heat gun while doing some lead paint abatement.

UPDATE 3:19 p.m.: The fire is completely out.

Mulch fire by credit union on Veterans Memorial Drive

By Billie Owens

A mulch fire is reported at the ESL Federal Credit Union on Veterans Memorial Drive. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 4:49 p.m.: A fireman on scene reports it is a small mulch fire and calls for a brush truck to respond in non-emergency mode.

UPDATE 5 p.m.: The fire is out. Town of Batavia is back in service..

Cornfield on fire off Lewiston Road in Alabama

By Billie Owens

A cornfield is reportedly on fire at 1534 Lewiston Road, near Church Street, in Alabama. Alabama Fire Department is en route.

UPDATE 12:26 p.m.: Fire police and an engine from Oakfield are requested. Smoke is blowing across the roadway.

UPDATE 12:37 p.m.: A tanker from Oakfield is called to the scene. Some firefighters are working at the back of the property to protect a barn. There's a brush fire nearby. Although the fire is not approaching the structure, there are strong winds blowing.

UPDATE 12:47 p.m.: Alabama command reports the fire is under control.

UPDATE 12:59 p.m.: The fire is out. The Alabama assignment is back in service.


Dryer fire reported at mobile home on Lake Street Road

By Howard B. Owens

A dryer fire is reported at a mobile home on Lake Street, Le Roy.

A Le Roy PD officer reports smoke in the residence.

The occupants are out of the home.

Le Roy Fire Department is responding with mutual aid from Bergen.

UPDATE 12:26 a.m.: Pavilion firefighters are asked to stand by at Le Roy's hall.  The fire is knocked down. Fans requested.

UPDATE 12:35 a.m.: Fire contained to the dryer. No extension. The fire is out.

UPDATE 12:48 a.m.: Bergen back in service.

UPDATE 1:06 a.m.: Pavilion back in service.

Transformer fire reported in Pembroke

By Howard B. Owens

A transformer fire is reported at 1145 Main Road, Pembroke.

The location is right in front of the Pembroke Highway Department.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments dispatched.

The fire appears to have burned itself out.

UPDATE 8:49 a.m.: A fire responder says the fire is out. The pole is a little charred.

UPDATE 9:36 a.m.: Power is out for fewer than five customers. National Grid expects repairs to be completed by 12:15 p.m.

UPDATE 11:08 a.m.: The traffic lights at Route 77 and Route 5 will be out for an hour during transformer repairs. A deputy is being dispatched to direct traffic.


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Brush fire off Route 63, south of Village of Oakfield

By Billie Owens

A brush fire is reported off Route 63, just south of the Village of Oakfield. Oakfield Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 3:17 p.m.: The fire is knocked down.

UPDATE 3:19 p.m.: Oakfield is back in service.

Shed fire on Ivison Road, Byron

By Billie Owens

A shed fire is reported at 7410 Ivison Road in Byron. It is connected (or close) to a barn. Byron, South Byron and Bergen fire departments are responding.

UPDATE 7:01 p.m.: Elba is called to stand in at the Byron Fire Hall.

UPDATE 7:04 p.m.: Firefighters on scene report smoke is showing. The location is between Gillett and Freeman roads.

UPDATE 7:08 p.m.: The response from Elba and Bergen is cancelled.

UPDATE 7:14 p.m.: This was actually a tractor on fire, which was parked in the shed. The fire is out and the tractor has been removed from the shed. The inside of the shed has been hosed down.

UPDATE 7:21 p.m.: Byron is back in service. South Byron is remaining until the scene is picked up/cleaned up.

Brush fire on Gilbert Street, Le Roy

By Billie Owens

A brush fire is reported at 82 Gilbert St. in the Village of Le Roy. Le Roy Fire Department is responding. A fireman at the scene says there's a fire in the woods.

UPDATE 6:45 p.m.: A firefighter says "We've got it pretty well knocked down. There's just some embers on some logs."

UPDATE 6:52 p.m.: The fire is out. Le Roy is picking up equipment and will be in service momentarily.

Smoke in the basement of Oakfield residence

By Billie Owens

A possible fire is reported at 24 Maple Ave. in the Village of Oakfield. There are no flames showing, but smoke is coming from the basement. The caller says it may be electrical in nature. Oakfield Fire Department is responding. The power has been turned off. The location is between Gibson and Main streets.

UPDATE 12:18 p.m.: The firefighter says "We've got an electrical fire in the wall." A pumper and tanker from Elba are requested to the scene.

UPDATE 12:29 p.m.: A building inspector is called to the address.

UPDATE 12:32 p.m.: A rep from the Niagara-Mohawk power company is requested.

UPDATE 12:32 p.m.: The fire is out. Oakfield and Elba are back in service.

Shed fire on Munson Street in Le Roy

By Billie Owens

A shed fire is reported behind a residence at 38 Munson St. Le Roy firefighters are responding.

UPDATE 4:33: The shed is small and there's not much in it. They are holding the assignment to Engine 63.

UPDATE 4:35: Le Roy police are also on scene.

UPDATE 4:39 p.m.: Le Roy ambulance also responded, but is now back in service. UPDATE 4:44 p.m.: The fire is out. Le Roy firefighters are back in service.

Burner on stove that was accidently turned on may have been cause of fire on Union Street

By Howard B. Owens

City fire investigators have yet to release the cause of a fire early Friday evening that broke out in a home on Union Street, but the current resident of the home described how the fire may have started accidentally.

Doug Veltz, who has lived at 1 Union St. for many years but was moving out after Terry Platt recently acquired the property, was trying to nap, he said, when he smelled smoke.

At first, he said, he thought the smoke was being blown into his room through a fan in the window, but then he thought that maybe he should play it safe and investigate.

As I was coming down the stairs, I could smell it," Veltz said. "It was coming from my house. I got to the kitchen and there was flame coming from the burner on the stove. There was a glass candle sitting on the burner on the stove. It was just set there. The candle wasn’t lit. Before I went to sleep, I must have bumped a dial, a knob on the stove."

Veltz said his first instinct was to blow on the flame.

"In one big breath, I blew it out," he said.

He then turned to get some water and as soon as he turned his back, he heard the burner flame back up and this time, the flame was two feet high.

There was a winter coat there and I was going to try and smother it," Veltz said. "It went up in flames and at that point, I realized it was beyond my control. I screamed for my dog. He came downstairs. Luckily, I had my phone with me and I dialed 9-1-1."

Fire Chief Jim Maxwell said the department won't have information to release from its investigation until Sunday at the earliest.

Veltz said he had moved only a small portion of his belongings, including collectable items and all the photos of his children, which he had just placed in a tub in the dining room.

The back of the house was badly damaged, but Platt said he believes the structure remains solid and he plans to renovate the interior and eventually sell the house.

Maxwell said a quick response -- even though Engine 12 was at Dwyer Stadium for fireworks night -- helped save the structure.

All platoons from city fire were called to the scene and Town of Batavia's Fast Team also responded. Alexander fire was on standby at the city's fire hall.

Mercy EMS and Batavia PD also responded.

House fire on Union Street in the city

By Billie Owens

A working house fire is reported at 1 Union St. in the City of Batavia. City fire is responding. Many calls have come in on this. The location is at the corner of West Main Street.

It's a two-story house and the upstairs is on fire. All off-duty firefighters are also called in, and the Town of Batavia Fast Team. One person on the first floor remains unaccounted for.

UPDATE 7:19 p.m.: A Mercy ambulance is called.

UPDATE 7:21 p.m.: The missing person has been accounted for and is safe. National Grid is called in.

UPDATE 7:24 p.m.: The chief says "We've got a good knock down on this fire. Heavy smoke throughout. Checking for extensions."

UPDATE 7:27 p.m.: Alexander firefighters are called to fill in at the city station.

UPDATE 7:29 p.m.: There's fire in the basement. There's no fire in the attic now, but there's still heat. The fire on the first floor is out. They've got three water lines on the house.

UPDATE 7:31 p.m.: They've broken out the basement windows and the basement fire is mostly extinguished. They have not yet cut the power at the panel box "too much debris." They are having trouble locating the gas line to shut it off. They are going to put fans out front to help blow away the smoke.

UPDATE 7:34 p.m.: They've found the gas line and shut it off. In the basement, the electrical panel which contains the circuit breakers has melted.

UPDATE 7:44 p.m.: The second floor fire is out, including some extension into a wall.

UPDATE 7:45 p.m.: "The homeowner's pretty sure it started on the stove, in the kitchen there."

UPDATE 7:51 p.m.: National Grid has arrived.

UPDATE 7:55 p.m.: National Grid has shut off the power. A building inspector is called in as is the American Red Cross to assist one occupant.

UPDATE 8 p.m.: The building is owned by Terry Platt. The occupant is Doug Veltz.

UPDATE 8:03 p.m.: The Red Cross is expected to arrive in about 15 minutes.

UPDATE 8:32 p.m.: Town of Batavia's Fast Team is released from the assignment.

UPDATE 9:04 p.m.: Alexander is back in service. Mercy medics went back in service some time ago.

UPDATE 9:47 p.m.: The Union Street assignment is back in service. All responders are clearing the scene.

Smoke from electrical outlet reported in Woodstock Gardens apartment, Batavia

By Billie Owens

City firefighters are responding to a report of smoke coming from an electrical outlet at 21 Woodstock Gardens, Apt. 21.

UPDATE 6:05 p.m.: They are on scene, investigating. The location is the southernmost building in the back of the complex.

UPDATE 6:07 p.m.: City police are called in case traffic control is needed.

UPDATE 6:09 p.m.: A building inspector is called to the scene.

UPDATE 6:14 p.m.: The inspector's ETA is now roughly 15 minutes.

UPDATE 6:30 p.m.: The problem was determined to be an air-conditioner leaking water into an electrical outlet. To fix it, firefighters "eliminated the outlet." The city assignment is back in service.

Jeep with blazing brakes on Boyce Road

By Billie Owens

A red Jeep with its brakes on fire is reported off Boyce Road, near Route 5. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 12:16 p.m.: The fire is out.

UPDATE 12:23 p.m.: East Pembroke is back in service. A tow truck is en route.

Possible grass fire in woods off westbound Route 490

By Billie Owens

A possible grass fire in two spots is reported in the woods off westbound Route 490 in the area of mile marker 0.9. Bergen and Le Roy fire departments are called to investigate.

UPDATE 12:23 p.m.: Firefighters found five or six large controlled burns. The farmer had notified the Emergency Dispatch Center beforehand about the planned burns. However, authorities decided because of their location, they should be looked at for safety reasons. The responders are back in service. And the property owner, who is actually on Lake Street Road, is "highly agitated" with the situation.

Car fire reported in front of Arnold Farm, Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

A car fire has been reported at 2878 Batavia Oakfield Townline Road, Oakfield.

The car is in front of the Arnold Farm.

Oakfield Fire Department is responding.

The first chief on scene reports heavy smoke.

UPDATE 11:33 p.m.: The fire is out. A tow truck is en route to haul the vehicle away. The road is reopened. Oakfield is back in service.


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Neighbor rescues two dogs from burning home on River Road, Pavilion

By Howard B. Owens

Two dogs on River Road were rescued today from a home on River Road, Pavilion, after a fire ignited in the back of the manufactured home while the tenants were not home.

Steven Barnhardt, a neighbor, opened the unlocked front door, and even though the ceiling had black smoke rolling over it, entered the house, let the dogs out of their cages and then yelled to see if anybody was in the house.

"There was black smoke and flames coming out the back window and as soon as I got out, it started coming out of the roof," Barnhardt said.

The fire appears to have started in a rear bedroom and was possibly related to an electrical issue, though no appliances were believed to be running at the time the fire started.

Besides the dogs, two cats were saved, though as of 6 p.m., one was still missing.

While the dogs ran off from the fire scene, they returned later and were reunited with their owners.

The residence is owned by Matthew Janis and his tenants were Cory Harkness and Chelsea Zeluff.

Pavilion Chief Paul Dougherty said that even though the response was quick and most of the house was saved, given the type of construction, it's probably a total loss.

"It's probably easier to move another manufactured dwelling here than reconstruct this one," Dougherty said.

The property is valued at $61,000.

Dougherty said the black smoke from the fire was visible from some distance away and when chiefs arrived on scene, there was fire coming from two back windows and from under the eaves.

The biggest difficulty firefighters faced was the flimsy nature of the floor of the manufactured house.

"A hole was already burned through the floor in one of the rooms," Dougherty said. "Fortunately, there is no basement, so the first guy or two just kind of settled through the floor and they were able to to get themselves out and continue with the suppression."

Mutual aid at the scene included Stafford, Bethany, Batavia's Fast Team, Le Roy, Alexander, Lester, York, Perry, Perry Center and Wyoming.

Dougherty said due to the lack of public water in the area, Pavilion needed the assistance of several of the surrounding department's tankers and crews to help with the water supply.

Genesee County Emergency Services assisted at the scene and with the investigation.

Deputy Brad Mazur is assisting in the investigation.

House fire on River Road, Pavilion

By Billie Owens

A house fire is reported in Pavilion at 11039 River Road. Fire departments from Pavilion, Stafford, Bethany are responding along with the city's Fast Team. Le Roy firefighters will stand in at Pavilion's hall. A lot of smoke is showing. The location is off Route 63.

UPDATE 5:23 p.m.: More help is on the way from Alexander, Lester, York, Perry, Perry Center and Wyoming.

UPDATE 5:28 p.m.: Fire police from Le Roy are called to the scene for traffic control. Medics are also called, including some from Livingston County. The home is unoccupied.

UPDATE 5:36 p.m.: National Grid is called. Firefighters are trying to shut off the natural gas line now. Several minutes ago, a person described as the homeowner was said to be running up to the house on foot.

UPDATE 5:38 p.m.: At least a portion of the fire has been knocked down.

UPDATE 5:46 p.m.: As firefighters continue to battle the blaze, they are also on the scout for two cats and one kitten that live inside the house.

UPDATE 5:48 p.m.: One of the cats was seen running from the scene and the homeowner has been told this.

UPDATE 5:52 p.m.: With the exception of medics, all responders from Wyoming and Livingston counties are put back in service.

UPDATE 5:53 p.m.: The fire is out. Crews are outside the structure now, rehabing the scene. Alexander and York are also put back in service. Investigators can start their investigation.

UPDATE 6 p.m.: Stafford and Perry are released from the scene. The American Red Cross is called to provide assistance to the residents.

UPDATE 6:04 p.m.: As for the cats, one remains unaccounted for, one is hiding under the house and refuses to be coaxed out. One was rescued after it scampered away from the tumult.

UPDATE 6:08 p.m.: National Grid is on location to shut off the power.

UPDATE 7:35 p.m.: Pavilion back in service.

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