fire

The damage was too extensive from an industrial fire at 20 Howard St., Batavia, on Nov. 9 for investigators to determine the cause of the blaze.

The massive fire destroyed a 4,160-square-foot structure, built in 1941, where Baskin Livestock processed dry dog food into feed for hogs.

The fire investigation team of Captain Jamie Call, Captain Michael Morris, and Firefighter Christina Marinaccio determined the fire started in the southwest corner of the structure.

City Fire was dispatched to the call at 7:47 a.m. after dispatchers received reports of a large quantity of black smoke coming from the building.

When Captain Mike Morris opened truck bay doors when he arrived on scene, he confirmed a large fire and requested a second alarm.

Because it was a heavily involved fire already, Morris, the incident commander, determined the priority for firefighters was protecting other buildings nearby. 

He requested a third alarm.

A short time later, Chief Josh Graham arrived on scene and assumed command.

Fire crews worked the fire for over 12 hours, with a single crew remaining on scene until 10 p.m.

"Due to the difficulty with access and size of the structure, crews were working on and off for the next four days," Graham said. "This also included the use of an East Pembroke Fire Department utility vehicle, which aided us in getting to hard-to-reach spots."

Graham indicated that investigators put a lot of effort into trying to determine the cause of the fire.

“I applaud the fire investigation team for their tireless work as well as all of the crews that responded to this incident,” Graham said.

Graham reported two minor injuries to city firefighters at the scene. They were evaluated by Mercy EMS medics and continued working the fire after being checked out.

The City of Batavia Fire Department was assisted by the City of Batavia Police Department, Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center, the Town of Batavia Fire Department, the Leroy Fire Department, Stafford Fire Department, East Pembroke Fire Department, Mercy EMS, Genesee County Office of Emergency Management, City of Batavia DPW, City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City of Batavia Codes Department, NYS DEC, National Grid, and National Fuel.

On Saturday evening, Fire Chief Jeff Fluker of Bethany Fire Department led as the master of ceremonies at Bethany’s annual awards and installation of officer’s banquet. 

More than 80 people attended, including VIP guests from other area fire departments, including Alexander, Attica, Elba, Pavilion, Stafford, and Wyoming.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley and County Legislator Gregg Torrey were also among the guests.  

Steve Breckenridge and Emergency Coordinator Tim Yaeger gave opening remarks on the evening.

Jeff Fluker presented the installation of officers for 2025.  

Steve Breckenridge presented the President's Award to Bethany Fire Department Treasurer Debbie Donnelly.

Jeff Fluker and John Szymkowiak announced the Firefighter of the Year award to EMS Captain, Gail Smith. 

Jeff Fluker and John Szymkowiak presented the Chiefs award for the year to second assistant and training officer, Will Thurley.

Gregg Torrey presented the years of service awards to the members present.

The memorial service, led by Pastor Walter Wenhold, honored Robert Alwardt, (Divider NY) Don Frank, who passed away in 2024 and all deceased members of the department.

The department responded to 146 total calls in 2024.  

The top responders were:

• Will Thurley, 82 calls
• Brian Bitton, 75 calls
• Gail Smith, 62 calls
• Glenn Adams, 55 calls
• Peggy Johnson, 42 calls
• Jeff Wolak, 40 calls
• Carl Hyde Jr., 37 calls
• Jeff Fluker, 35 calls
• John Szymkowiak, 35 calls
• Vicki Wolak, 34 calls

If anyone is interested in joining or learning more, contact Chief Jeff Fluker at 585-300-8153 or come to the fire hall any Monday at 7 p.m.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

A 10-year-old who was rescued from a house fire at 3 Vine St., Batavia, early Thursday morning, has died, according to the Batavia Police Department.

The name of the child has not been released.

The child's two siblings, ages 4 and 12, are in critical condition at Strong Memorial Hospital.

The fire remains under investigation by Batavia PD and the Batavia Fire Department.

The fire was reported at about 12:30 a.m. when a downstairs neighbor heard the smoke alarms going off.  The neighbor, Dennis Say, said he called emergency dispatch and while the children were yelling that they were trapped, he tried to break down a locked door but was unsuccessful.

An initial fire crew was on scene and minutes and quickly extricated two children and a third child was located and carried from the house a short time later.  All three were quickly transported by Mercy EMS to UMMC before being transferred to Strong.

Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact Batavia PD at 585-345-6444.

Press release:

The city of Batavia Police Department and Fire Department are currently investigating a structure fire that occurred in the early morning hours on Thursday on Vine Street in the City of Batavia.

At approximately 12:45 a.m., the Genesee County 911 Emergency Dispatch Center received a call from the downstairs tenant of 3 Vine Street reporting a fire in the upper apartment with three children trapped inside. Upon arrival, city police officers observed flames coming from a second-story window. Officers made their way to the second floor in an attempt to enter the apartment but were pushed back by smoke and heat. City Fire arrived moments after police and made entry into the apartment, where they located and rescued three children, ages 4, 10 and 12.

The children were the only occupants of the apartment at the time of the fire. All three children were transported to UMMC and then to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. All three children are siblings and their conditions will be updated at a later time. 

The cause and origin of the fire are still under investigation. City Fire and City Police are working alongside each other as the investigation moves forward. More information will be released at a later date.

Two city police officers and one city fireman suffered minor injuries, but they were treated and resumed working. Assisting with the incident were Mercy EMS, the Town of Batavia Fire Department, the LeRoy Fire Department and the Genesee County 911 Emergency Dispatch Center.

Three children were rescued from a fire reported at 3 Vine St. in the city of Batavia at approximately 12:30 a.m. Thursday, Sgt. Kevin DeFelice of Batavia Police Department said. 

The Batavia City Fire Department and three ambulances from Mercy EMS arrived at the scene, and firefighters assisted the children out of the home, DeFelice said to The Batavian. A second alarm was put out for the town of Batavia. 

The fire was knocked down by 1:06 a.m. as the dwelling's downstairs neighbor, Dennis Say, heard a smoke alarm detector going off, he said, and he tried to contact the upstairs neighbor to find out if he had heard anything.

"Maybe he had toast burning or something, I don't know, and he wasn't, he's not answering his phone," Say said. And I came outside on my side of our porch, and the room above it was on fire, flames coming from the upstairs apartment," he said. "And I still couldn't get a hold of nobody. So I came to the front door, knocking and banging on the door, and the kids were yelling out the window that they were trapped and couldn't get out, and I was on the phone at the fire station, and I just couldn't get the door. I got all my family out downstairs and everybody I could out downstairs. And then the fire department came down. I think they might have come on the ladder with two of the kids and then only carried somebody out the front."

The three children were transported to to UMMC for evaluation and treatment.

DeFelice said a Batavia PD will put out a press release once they have more information about the fire.

Photos by Howard Owens

A house fire at 82 Main St., Corfu, was reported shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday.

When the Corfu Fire chief arrived on scene reported a full-involved structure fire on the first floor of the house. He immediately called for a second alarm, which included the city's FAST Team, Town of Batavia Fire, and Pembroke Fire.  Elba Fire and Darien Fire also dispatched.

The resident and her pet were not at home at the time, according to Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator. He said the resident was on her way to the airport when she learned of the fire. She returned to the scene.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and will be investigated, Yaeger said..

The 2,128-square-foot residence was built in 1900 and remodeled in 1940, according to county tax records. Its assessed value is $186,890. The listed owner is June Myers.

Photos by Howard Owens.

A residence at 8087 Parmelee Road in Le Roy was destroyed in an early morning fire, according to the Le Roy Fire Department.

Crews responded to the log cabin structure at 2:35 a.m. The first crews on scene reported heavy fire from the instruction.

The homeowner escaped the fire after being alerted by a smoke alarm inside the residence. 

Le Roy reports that there was limited access to the structure, so the scene commander requested UTVs and 4X4 trucks from mutual aid departments.

The UTVs and 4x4s were used to shuttle manpower and equipment to the scene.

Bergen Fire reported that "Crews faced steep challenges, including heavy fire and an icy, inaccessible driveway that required the use of four-wheel-drive vehicles and UTVs to reach the scene. With temperatures hovering around 5 degrees, the extreme cold pushed our firefighters and equipment to their limits. Gear froze stiff, and maintaining the functionality of hoses, tools, and vehicles demanded extraordinary effort."

Bergen said all firefighters returned home safely.

"This incident highlights the incredible resilience and dedication of our firefighters in Bergen and the surrounding towns," Bergen said in a statement.

Responding departments included Bergen Fire, Pavilion Fire, Stafford Fire, Cit yof Batavia, Caledonia Fire, Town of Batavia Fire, Scottsville Fire, Mumford Fire, and Brockport Fire. Scene supported included the Le Roy Highway Department, Le Roy PD, Sheriff's Office, Le Roy Ambulance, Le Roy Fire Auxiliary, and emergency dispatchers.

Photos via Bergen Fire Department.

Ten goats died in a barn fire on Thursday night at 3602 Rose Road, Batavia.

Homeowners Shey and Gina Doane said they also had antiques stored in the barn along with some belongings of Shey's late father.

The fire was reported at 9:13 p.m.

Deputy Fire Coordinator Dan Coffey said the homeowner spotted smoke when he returned home and that the barn was fully involved a few minutes later when the first firefighters arrived on the scene.  The barn was a total loss.

Shey said he had returned from taking his son's girlfriend home when he found the fire.

The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation, Coffey said.

Town of Batavia Fire responded with mutual aid from East Pembroke and Alexander. Oakfield and Stafford provided fill-ins for the responding departments.

There may have been one minor firefighter injury, a slip-and-fall, Coffey said, but he was not treated at the scene.

Crews cleared the scene at 1 a.m.

The Doanes said the goats were rescues rejected by their mothers, so they were raised inside the barn and bottle fed. Gina said the goats were like her kids.

Photos by Kara Richenberg. Kara Richenberg contributed to the story.

The cause of a fire at 15 East Ave., Batavia, remains under investigation, according to City Fire Chief Josh Graham.

In a statement, Graham said:

On Thursday, Nov. 28, the City of Batavia Fire Department responded to a report of a residential structure fire at 15 East Ave in the city. Law enforcement arrived on scene and confirmed fire showing from the first floor with one occupant out of the building and unknown if any others were inside. 

Initial fire units led by Lieutenant Craig Huntoon arrived 4 minutes after dispatch to find a large volume of fire on the first floor of a two-story, single-family residence. Lieutenant Huntoon immediately requested a second alarm while crews made an aggressive offensive fire attack. 

Crews quickly brought the fire under control and searched for occupants. No additional occupants were found. Crews spent over three hours on the scene. 

The structure sustained major damage to the entire first floor, while the second floor only received minor damage due to a closed stairwell door. 

There were two minor injuries to firefighters on scene. 

Graham said the department was assisted by the Batavia Police Department, Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center, the Town of Batavia Fire Department, the Leroy Fire Department, Mercy EMS, and the Genesee County Office of Emergency Management. 

A first-floor fire was reported at 15 East Ave., Batavia, shortly before 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, with flames and smoke showing when police officers arrived on scene.

The initial call came from a passerby who reported flames showing through a first-floor window.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

A single occupant was out of the house safely when City Fire arrived on scene. There was concern about a second occupant still inside but a search by firefighters determined the house was unoccupied at that point. The first resident said he may have left before the fire.

The fire was knocked down by City Fire crews within minutes of the first city crews arriving on scene.

Heavy fire damage was visible on the first the first floor.

The property is owned by Michael and Patricia McDonald. The house was built in 1880 and is 1,474 square feet, according to property tax records. The assessed value is $99,000.

The fire went to a second alarm with Town of Batavia's FAST Team responding along with Le Roy Fire.

Photos by Howard Owens.

It will take days for investigators to determine what may have started this morning's fire at a animal feed processing plant at 20 Howard St., Batavia, said City Fire Chief Josh Graham.

The call came in at 7:47 a.m. and Batavia patrol officers arrived on scene first and confirmed smoke and flames, which led to an immediate second alarm. When the first fire crew arrived he said, they realized the fire was going to require more resources so a third alarm was called.

It took hours to fight the fire, which as of 2 p.m. on Saturday, wasn't completely extinguished as firefighters worked to extinguish hot spots.

"We just started now the investigation," Graham said. "The investigators went in to look around and get an initial look at this. They're gonna work on that probably for the next four or five days to try to figure it all out. There's going to be a massive amount of information to look at."

Baskin Livestock owner Bill Baskin said he is baffled by the fire.

"This is the last place I expected something like this," Baskin said.

There have been a few fires over the years at Baskin's other facility on Creek Road, Batavia. They are generally explainable because of the large furnace used to dry food items—such as discarded baked goods—which are ground into feed for cattle.

The Howard Street facility processes dry dog food into feed for hogs and heat isn't used, Baskin said. Yesterday's work crew finished at 2 p.m. on Friday and when an employee stopped by the facility at 7 a.m. on Saturday, there was no sign of fire, Baskin said.

Baskin said the two facilities are segregated to ensure the dog food doesn't contaminate the cattle feed. Spreading mad cow disease would be damaging if that were to happen, Baskin said.

On Saturday afternoon, an excavator was brought in to move debris so firefighters could attack hot spots. Graham said piles of debris would be moved, the hotspot dealt with, and then debris moved to that spot to deal with the next hotspot until the job is complete.  Even then, Graham expects calls for rekindles over the next few days.

The buildings at 20 Howard were originally constructed in 1946 and it was once a fertilizer plant. The three structures on the property were a combined 82,257 square feet.

Agencies responding to the fire: City Fire, Town of Batavia Fire, Stafford, Elba, Mercy EMS, Office of Emergency Management, Batavia PD, Salvation Army, National Grid, Sewer & Water, and National Fuel. Fill-in companies for departments that responded: Alexander, Bergen, Albion, and East Pembroke.

Photos by Howard Owens.

If you have photos or videos to submit, email howard@thebatavian.com or text 585-260-6970 

UPDATE: Thank you for all the submissions.  I won't be available the rest of the day to post any additional photos that come in.

Power has been cut in the immediate area of the Howard Street fire for the safety of fire personnel on scene.

National Grid reports that 516 people along the north and south sides of Ellicott Street are without power.

Photos by Frank Capuano. 

A structure fire at 20 Howard St. in the city of Batavia has called out the city fire department Saturday morning.

Flames and heavy smoke were still visible as of 8:20 a.m. 

Photos by Howard Owens.

A school bus on Bank Street near North in Batavia is stopped after smoke was spotted coming from the tail pipe. 

A police officer responded and confirmed the smoke.  City Fire requested to the scene to investigate further. 

All students and the driver are off the bus and on the sidewalk 

A barn fire is reported at 4961 Bridge Road, Elba.

The barn is full of hay straw.  It is fully engulfed.

Elba Fire along with Byron, South Byron, Barre fire departments, along the City's FAST Team and Mercy EMS are dispatched.

UPDATE 1:40 p.m. by Joanne Beck: The town of Elba is replacing Bridge Road. The town supervisor was driving by and spotted the fire and called the Elba fire chief. 

Fire companies from Elba, city of Batavia, town of Batavia, Bergen, Byron, South Byron, and Barre, with Oakfield and Stafford as backup fill-in companies, and Genesee County Emergency Management Services and Mercy EMS are at the scene.

One firefighter is being transported to United Memorial Medical Center for evaluation.  

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. There is no electricity to the building.

A train is stopped, blocking multiple roads, in Corfu for a reported fire.

Ellinwood and Colby roads are blocked.

Corfu Fire is on scene.

UPDATE 10:13 a.m.: A train car at a crossing, apparently at Ellinwood, is smoking.

UPDATE 10:14 a.m.: A deputy emergency coordinator on scene confirms a fire in a train car. A thermal imaging camera will be used to locate the precise location of the fire.

UPDATE 10:18 a.m.: A CSX truck is just arriving on scene. Firefighters are looking to consult with CSX personnel before proceeding.

UPDATE 10:21 a.m.: The car is full of construction material -- 200,000 pounds.  The fire is at the bottom of the car. The question is whether to fight the fire at the present location or send the train on its way.

UPDATE 10:23 a.m.: The fire is starting to burn through the bottom of the car.

UPDATE 10:25 a.m.: A CSX dispatcher advises that if firefighters can inject water into the location of the fire, do it.  It might be possible to get water in through the hole.  Chiefs on scene have decided to move the train so that the car is at Snippery Road where there is a fire hydrant.  It may be necessary to bring a ladder truck.

UPDATE 10:53 a.m.: The water main leading to the hydrant at Snippery has cracked open. Tankers are required to the scene. A second alarm is being called. 

UPDATE 10:58 a.m.: The thermal camera indicates the fire is burning at about 400 degrees. Since firefighters already laid out a line from Route 33 to the crossing, tankers will charge the line from the Corfu Fire Hall parking lot. 

UPDATE 11:29 a.m.: The plan is to fill the car up with water and drown the fire.  This will be a long operation. 

UPDATE 12:20 p.m.: The Corfu operation is shutting down. The train is going to be moved "elsewhere."

A fire is reported on the roof of 11 Mill St., Batavia.

That is off Evans Street.

It's a business building and the building is being evacuated.

City Fire responding.

UPDATE 11:41 a.m.: Second alarm. Town of Batavia, Elba, and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE: 

The fire seems to have originated with a piece of machinery and molten metal. It was very hot, said Capt Dan Herberger. The machine got on fire.  The flames got into the installation in the ceiling. There was no real structural damage, Herberger said. "The concern was it was molten metal and that doesn't react very well with water," Herberger said. 

The building is the location of SCI Manufacturing, which manufactures die-cast aluminum.  

Until 1982, the building was home of the Genesee County Highway Department, before the department moved to its current location on Cedar Street.

Photos by Howard Owens

A structural fire is reported at 2910 West Main Street Road, Batavia.

A second alarm has been called.

East Pembroke Fire dispatched with mutual aid from Town of Batavia, Darien, Alexander, and City Fire's FAST Team.

UPDATE 2:16 a.m.: A deputy spotted a wire connected to the house arcing and sparking, which caused some smoke damage to the exterior of the structure. East Pembroke Chief Don Newton said there was a small interior fire involving fan.  He said they didn't know yet if there had been a power surge in the area but a neighboring residence did have brown-out conditions.