Bethany

We have yet to receive word on the extent of the damage to a home in Bethany that caught fire early this morning. But these few photos taken at the scene about an hour ago show that the home—at least, the half of it where the fire broke out—is essentially destroyed.

The cause of a fire that damaged a home in the town of Bethany overnight is still under investigation, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Fire crews first got the call at 2:25 a.m., this morning, that a chimney fire had broken out at the home at 4588 Conway Road in Bethany. There was one occupant at home, and she was able to get out safely. 

Firefighters could see the flames from a distance as they arrived on scene. No injuries were reported. The Bethany Volunteer Fire Department is being aided by several surrounding departments, including Alexander, Batavia, Stafford, Pavilion, Wyoming, Warsaw, Attica, South Byron and LeRoy.

No reports yet of the extent of the damage. An article this morning in the Democrat & Chronicle reports that firefighters were still on scene at 6:30 a.m., and heavy fire damage is apparent.

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The Batavian is heading out to find out more information on a reported mobile home fire on Ellicott Street Road in Bethany. We will post additional info as it becomes available.

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Updated: 2:17pm... We arrived on scene a little under a quarter of an hour ago. No flames could be scene inside or outside the mobile home, which is situated on a plot of land just past East Road on Ellicott Street Road. Fire crews are on scene, and they seem to have everything under control. Some thin wisps of smoke are still blowing out the back of the home. No real damage to the front of the structure. No further information is available at this time. We will bring you updates as they become available.

A livestock feed facility that caught fire in Bethany yesterday morning and burned for more than seven hours has sustained more than $1 million in damage, according to the Daily News. An initial investigation into the blaze that destroyed the structure has been attributed to a dust explosion inside the exhaust system.

In other news, Kevin J. Weber, 37, of Batavia, was sentenced to 1 1/2 to three years in state prison Tuesday. Weber pleaded guilty to fourth-degree arson for setting a storage shed on fire in September. He had previously been in jail for more than four years for an arson fire in Byron in 2002.

Batavia Downs should wrap up the season with an overall handle of about $6.2 million, a $500,000 increase over the wagers from last year. Also, revenue from the video gaming machines may exceed $30 million, which amounts to about 10 percent more than last year.

We encourage you to pick up a copy of the Daily News at your local newsstand. Or, better yet, subscribe at BataviaNews.com.

A grain barn on Creek Road in the town of Bethany caught fire this morning and all but burned to the ground, according to the Daily News. One farm worker on scene was taken to United Memorial Medical Center for treatment of minor smoke inhalation. No one else was injured in the blaze that, at one point, threatened to explode a row of propane tanks.

Reporter Scott DeSmit tells the story of the fire in a vivid narrative. Here's just a snippet:

Flames quickly tore through the thin metal roof and sides of the barn. Electrical service in the front popped like fireworks, sending bursts of green and white sparks into the air and causing concern that the live lines would soon catch fire and fall.

More than a dozen fire crews were still on scene at 10 o'clock this morning, two hours after the fire erupted. WBTA's Dan Fischer informs us that Creek Road was closed off between Putnam and Brookville roads.

Batavia Downs will close the track for the season after this Saturday. Unlike last year, Tom Rivers reports that the horses will be allowed to stay at the raceway instead of having to head to Buffalo, as they did last year.

Batavia city school students will be allowed to attend a biotechnology at Genesee Community College for free and earn a college credit thanks to a grant from Bank of America.

We encourage you to pick up a copy of the Daily News at your local newsstand. Or, better yet, subscribe at BataviaNews.com.

Click here to download the agenda for the upcoming Bethany Town Board meeting.

Much to my surprise today, local author, William F. Brown, Jr. came into the Holland Land Office Museum with a box of his classic book, The Linden Murders: Unsolved!

The book, originally published in 1984 and in its eighth printing, tells the story of a series of murders that rocked the countryside around the hamlet of Linden in the early 1920s.

The price of the book is $12.95 and will not be available for long. Get your copy immediately at the Holland Land Office Museum; they will certainly sell out before Christmas.

The Holland Land Office Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. For more information, call us at 343-4727 or check out our website at www.hollandlandoffice.com

The Genesee County towns of Stafford, Bethany and Alexander will be holding municipal meetings tonight at their respective town halls. The Batavian has received the agendas for these meetings. They can be downloaded by clicking on the links below.

• Stafford Agenda
• Bethany Agenda
• Alexander Agenda