fire

Smoke is reported coming from a residence at 31 Summit St. in the city. Some callers also report flames showing. City fire is responding.

UPDATE 6:11 p.m.: It's a working house fire. It's gone to a second alarm. Alexander's Fast Team and Darien's Rescue unit are called to the scene along with Mercy medics. Town of Batavia fire is asked to stand by in quarters.

The location is between Washington Avenue and East Main Street.

UPDATE 6:40 p.m.: No injuries were reported, according to Chief Stefano Napolitano. The fire started on the back porch.

UPDATE 6:57 p.m.: There was a significant amount of fire on the backside of the residence when firefighters arrived, the chief said, but the fire was knocked down quickly and firefighters are doing overhaul and trying to ascertain how the blaze began. The chief said residents self-extricated after neighbors started pounding on their windows to alert them. Early detection devices did not go off because the fire was contained to a rear mud porch and there was no extension into the main structure or the basement. Chief Napolitano said residents were "very lucky." One of the two downstairs residents was asleep when the fire broke out; both got out along with their two dogs. Their cat was rescued and given air by Mercy EMS, which revived the animal. A lone female who lives upstairs also got out OK.

Top photo by Howard Owens. 

Photo by Mike Pettinella.

UPDATE: Photos below by Frank Capuano.

The smell of smoke is coming from an electrical outlet on the front porch at 3429 Dodgeson Road, Alexander, Alexander Fire Department is responding. The location is between Wortendyke and Alexander roads.

A small barn has reportedly burned down at 5995 Sautell Road, Bergen.

Bergen fire with mutual aid from Byron and South Byron dispatched.

UPDATE 8:16 p.m.: Elba fire dispatched.

UPDATE 11 p.m.: Photos submitted by Melissa Dilcher, who also called it in and alerted the residents of the property.

A locomotive engine is on fire at 16 Lehigh Ave. in Batavia and city firefighters are responding.

UPDATE 10:35 p.m.: The conductor of the train reacted quickly and cut off the fuel source to the blaze, thereby extinguising it before firefighters arrived. They checked out the scene and went back in service.

A vehicle fire is reported at 6973 Ellicott Street Road, Pavilion.

There are reports of explosions. 

The vehicle is next to a structure.

Several callers report flames showing.

Pavilion fire dispatched.

A chimney fire is reported on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation at 7748 Sand Hill Road. Alabama Fire Department is responding along with mutual aid from Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments.

The location is between Hopkins and Shanks roads.

UPDATE 4:45 p.m.: Alabama command is holding the assignment to units now on the road.

A possible structure fire is reported in Stafford at 8538 Route 237. A snowmobile is ablaze inside a barn where a lot of hay is stored. Stafford Fire Department is responding. The location is between Barthof and Morganville roads.

UPDATE 3:41 p.m.: Working structure fire. Byron Fire Department and ambulance are called for mutual aid, along with South Byron, Bergen, Le Roy, Bethany, Pavilion and city fire's Fast Team. The city's second platoon is called to headquarters on Evans Street. Town of Batavia Fire Department is asked to stand by in their own quarters.

UPDATE 3:55 p.m.: Alexander Fire Department is asked to stand by in Stafford's fire hall.

UPDATE 3:58 p.m.: Fire police are told to shut down Route 237 between Bartof and Morganville roads. Oakfield fire is requested to stand by in their hall for Town of Batavia fire. Elba asked to stand by in their hall for Stafford.

UPDATE 4:38 p.m.: Donny Branton told us his parents bought the property in the 1940s. The main barn was built around 1900, he says, and the barn on the south side of the property was built with wood Donny Branton's father cut into timber from trees on the land that he cut down himself. The property now belongs to Donny's son, Chad and his family.

UPDATE 4:57 p.m.: Le Roy Fire Department's Women's Auxillary requested to the scene to provide refreshments for the firefighters.

Press release:

At 4:56 a.m. today, Feb. 5, the City of Batavia Fire Department was dispatched to a reported residential fire at located at 216 North St. First arriving fire units were on-scene at 5 a.m.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a fire involving the front porch of the home extending to the exterior siding. Responding crews made an aggressive attack and were able to confine and contain the fire to the exterior of the home and the situation was called under control by command at 5:07 am.

While the fire was contained to the exterior of the residence, two vehicles located in the driveway along the home received significant damage due to the intensity of the fire.

At this time the City of Batavia’s Fire Investigation team is investigating the fire to determine the origin and cause. Presently, the fire does not appear to be incendiary in nature.

Once a determination has been made, we will be providing an additional media release with further information.

City fire was assisted at the scene by the City of Batavia Police with additional support provided by the Genesee County Emergency Dispatch.

(Initial Post)

A fire was reported at a residence in the Westside Mobile Home Park, 4016 W. Main Street Road, lot #6, Batavia. The occupant is still inside. But a Sheriff's deputy on scene reports the occupant says smoke filling the mobile home is due to burnt food and is refusing to go outside. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

A porch fire extending to the second floor is reported at 216 North St., Batavia.

All occupants are reported out of the residence.

City fire on scene. The third platoon is requested to headquarters.

UPDATE 5:10 a.m.: Fire is out, checking for extension.

Photo courtesy of reader Mary Margaret Ripley.

A fullly involved structure fire is reported in Le Roy at 8707 Lake Street Road. It has gone to a second alarm. Le Roy fire is responding and mutual aid is dispatched from the City of Batavia, Bergen, Stafford, Pavilion and Mumford.

UPDATE 10:14 a.m.: The location is between West Bergen and Randall roads. Town of Batavia Fire Department is asked to fill in at Le Roy's fire hall.

UPDATE 10:28 a.m.: Reader Mary Margaret Ripley says in a text message to The Batavian: "A truck blew up and the back of the building caught (fire), too." The location is Weldon Service & Repair shop.

UPDATE 10:36 a.m.: The fire is out. Overhaul is underway.

UPDATE: Video posted. Chief Tom Wood said the fire appeared to start with the pickup truck parked outside the building. The cause is still under investigation. The fire spread into the building but a quick response by volunteer firefighters helped contain the fire to less than a quarter of the structure. (No interview with Chief Wood in the video due to camera operator error).

A possible chimney fire is reported at 8783 Prole Road, Stafford.

Stafford fire dispatch.

UPDATE 9:13 a.m.: A second alarm: Bethany, Alexander, Le Roy, Town of Batavia, and Mercy EMS requested to the scene. The fire is still reported as a chimney fire.

UPDATE 9:18 a.m.: This is now a working structure fire.

UPDATE 9:48 a.m.: Fire is knocked down; doing overhaul.

UPDATE 9:55 a.m.: The fire itself was mainly contained to the fireplace and a couch next to it. But there was heavy smoke damage throughout the house and "multiple pets were lost," said Stafford Fire Chief Matt Hendershott.

Press release:

On Tuesday, Dec. 24, the City of Batavia Fire Department responded to a reported house fire with occupants trapped at 16 Highland Park in the city.

Initial fire units arrived in three minutes to find smoke and fire from the second story of a two-family home. After searching the home for occupants, it was determined that there were no people inside and everyone was accounted for.

One apartment sustained fire, smoke and water damage, while the other apartment had minor smoke damage.

One firefighter suffered a minor injury and remained on duty.

The fire is currently under investigation by the City of Batavia Fire and Police departments.

The City of Batavia Fire Department was assisted by the City of Batavia Police Department, Codes Enforcement, and Department of Public Works, Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center, Genesee County Emergency Management Office, the Town of Batavia, Le Roy and Alexander fire departments as well as Mercy EMS, National Grid, and the American Red Cross.

Additionally: An occupant had a dog. That dog is safe and is being cared for by Beds-N-Bones Pet Lodge in Batavia. A resident reportedly had a pet bearded dragon and a turtle. Both are believed to have perished in the fire.

(Initial Report)

Press release:

On Tuesday, Dec. 24, the City of Batavia Fire Department responded to a report of a house filling with smoke at 21 Manhattan Ave. in the City of Batavia.

Initial fire units arrived in four minutes to find light smoke emanating from a two-story, single-family home. Fire crews entered the home to find a fire in the closet that was quickly extinguished. Two occupants were home at the time of the fire and escaped unharmed prior to the fire department's arrival.

No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental by City of Batavia Fire Department investigators.

The City of Batavia Fire Department was assisted by the City of Batavia Police and Codes Department, Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center, and the Genesee County Emergency Management Office.

(Initial Report)

Flames are shooting from the second floor of a house at 16 Highland Park. Children reported on the second floor; there is entrapment. City fire is responding.

UPDATE 2:22 p.m.: Alexander's Fast Team is called to the scene along with Le Roy's rescue unit. Town of Batavia fire is asked to stand by in quarters.

UPDATE 2:23 p.m.: A second-alarm has activated. This is a working structure fire.

UPDATE 2:26 p.m.: "We have a report that everyone is out; we're doing a primary search," says fire command.

UPDATE 2:30 p.m.: "Heavy, heavy fire on the second floor," says fire command. "We have one (fire hose) line open. Heavy smoke and flames from B/C sides."

UPDATE 2:34 p.m.: Responders are told to access the scene via the Wood Street side.

UPDATE 3:43 p.m.: Video added. There's no interview in the video. The scene commander isn't likely to be available for at least another hour. The fire seems mostly contained though firefighters are working to get to hotspots in the walls and attic. We will seek an update from City fire later tonight.

City firefighters are dispatched to 21 Manhatten Ave. for a report of smoking filling the residence. The building has been evacuated.

UPDATE 1:22 p.m.: Fire command reports there is no active fire. The second story is charged with smoke; investigating.

UPDATE 1:24 p.m.: A fire was found in a second-floor closet. Extinguishing.

UPDATE 1:29 p.m.: "Fire knocked down. Checking for extensions."

A residential structure fire is reported in Pavilion in a house trailer that is believed to be unoccupied at 9887 S. Lake Road (Route 19). Flames are showing. Pavilion Fire Department is called to respond along with mutual aid from Le Roy and Stafford fire departments. The location is between Junction and Cole roads.

A possible furnace fire is reported at 6185 Oak Orchard Road, Elba. 

The house is reportedly filling with smoke.

Elba fire along with mutual aid from Orleans County dispatched.

UPDATE 12:07 p.m.: We've not heard any further traffic related to this call.

UPDATE 12:15 p.m.: The problem was deemed an over-pressurized furnace and it was addressed and responders put back in service.

Fire is reported at 415 E. Main St. in the City of Batavia. It is reported that the building is evacuated. City Fire Department is on scene. A Mercy ambulance is requested for a person suffering from possible smoke inhalation.

The location is between Bank and Wiard Ross and Vine streets.

UPDATE 11:15 p.m.: Medics are back in service with a patient sign-off.

A farm truck is on fire in the area of 6697 Quaker Hill Road, Byron.

The initial call was for smoke coming from a dashboard. A few minutes later, the dispatcher informed first responders that the truck is now on fire.

Byron and South Byron fire departments dispatched. Fire police requested to shut down the road.