fire

Fire investigators believe, preliminarily, that a malfunction in a furnace at 8920 Batavia Stafford Townline Road is the source of a fire that destroyed the home this morning.

The structure was fully involved before firefighters were dispatched shortly before 8:40 a.m.

"(The furnace is) propane-powered and forced hot air," said Tim Yaeger, Genesee County Emergency Management Coordinator. "(The homeowner) had left to go and give assignments to her crews for the business that they run here. When they came back, she said she smelled something funny, something hot, and one of her employees saw smoke exiting from the garage. They entered the garage, opened the door into the house and there was heavy black smoke in the house itself. So right now we're leaning towards, based on an investigation, preliminarily, we're looking at the furnace that may have had a malfunction."

Nobody was injured as a result of the fire and an employee reportedly rescued two dogs from inside the house.

The initial dispatch for the fire reported that two people had entered the house and may be trapped but when a Stafford assistant chief was first on scene, he informed dispatchers that both people were out of the house and that it was believed nobody was in the house at that point.

Town of Batavia Chief Chris Strathearn said the heavy, tall column of black smoke from the fire was visible well before he arrived on scene. He called for a second alarm.

Companies dispatched included Town of Batavia, City Fire, Stafford, Le Roy, and Alexander's FAST Team. Mercy EMS, Sheriff's Office, and State Police assisted at the scene.

The ranch-style home was built in 2016 and is owned by William and Stacy Corcoran. The 2,387-square-foot house sits on a 3.7-acre parcel. The Corcorans also own other adjoining farm property. 

Photos by Howard Owens. For more photos, click here.

Town of Batavia Fire dispatched.

UPDATE 8:34 a.m.: There was initially a report that two people had re-entered the house and were entrapped.  They are now reported out of the house.  There was also an explosion reported not attached to the structure.  A second alarm is requested.

UPDATED 9:20 a.m.: The fire has been knocked down.

UPDATE 11:05 a.m.: Batavia Stafford Townline Road has been reopened.

Bethany, Alexander, Town of Batavia dispatched.

Second alarm, Stafford, Pavilion, Le Roy, and City of Batavia FAST Team dispatched.

Photo by Howard Owens.

A fire is reported at 3 Platt St., Le Roy.

All occupants are being shown out of the structure.

Le Roy Fire and Le Roy Ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 11:44 p.m.: It's a stove fire.

UPDATE 11:49 p.m.: City Fire requested mutual aid.

UPDATE 11:53 p.m.: Le Roy Fire on scene.  Fan needed on second floor for ventilation.  

UPDATE 11:56 p.m.: City's First Platoon recalled to headquarters while City Fire responds to stove fire in Le Roy.

City Fire responded to a report of a structure fire at 101 Washington Ave., Batavia, and upon arrival found smoke and flames coming out of the south side of the building.

The Victorian-era house has served as the office of Dr. Vladimir Frias for the past seven years, and before that, it was Present Tense Books, and before that, a photography studio.

The office was closed today but Frias stopped by this afternoon and found the fire.

"When I came into the office, I saw the smoke and called 911. There was smoke and there was fire, and I called 911 right away, and then they were here. I came in from the back, the fire seemed like it came in from the middle ... this is terrible," he said. "I love this building too, it's a historic landmark. It's not just a building to us."

Fire Chief Daniel Herberger said he doesn't believe the building is a total loss and may be able to be restored.  There is heavy fire damage in the reception area and heavy smoke damage throughout the building.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The house was built in 1874.

Previously: Structure fire reported on Washington Avenue, Batavia

Two photos above are by Marc Johnson, whose office, Millennium Computers, is on the other side of Washington Avenue.

The building has been evacuated.

City Fire dispatched.

UPDATED 1:58 p.m.: The building houses the dentistry practice of Dr. Vladimir Frias, and he was at the scene during the fire rescue. The site was formerly Present Tense book store, which had been there for eight years, and Frias moved in and renovated it for his dental services nearly seven years ago. 

"When I came into the office, I saw the smoke and called 911. There was smoke and there was fire, and I called 911 right away, and then they were here. I came in from the back, the fire seemed like it came in from the middle ... this is terrible," he said. "I love this building too, it's a historic landmark. It's not just a building to us."

Top photo: Reader submitted. Above, by Howard Owens.

A mobile phone left on a bed charging is the suspected cause, at least at the preliminary stage of the investigation, of a fire at 6979 Big Tree Road, Pavilion, this evening.

The fire was called in at 7:03 p.m., according to Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator.

It appears to have started in a second-floor bedroom and residents told investigators that a phone was left on the bed plugged into a charger. A 13-year-old resident smelled the smoke and found the fire.  He alerted his father and they shoved the mattress out the window but the fire spread quickly anyway.

"How the fire progressed inside the building, we don't know yet because we still need to investigate and then go from there," Yaeger said. "It's kind of early yet."

All residents of the two-unit apartment building escaped safely.  There were no injuries reported.

There were one adult and two children residing in each of the apartments.  

It was unclear earlier this evening if the structure is a total loss, but it was heavily damaged on both floors with obvious heavy flame damage in the front of the second floor.

Pavilion, Le Roy, and Stafford were dispatched on the first alarm.  The second alarm included the City of Batavia FAST Team, but that crew was soon pressed into firefighting duties so Alexander's FAST Team was dispatched.

FAST stands for Firefighter Assist and Search Team.

"They're there to be the rescue team for firefighters," Yaeger said. "So if a firefighter gets trapped, disoriented, runs out of air, something happens to either a firefighter or a team of firefighters, that's what that team is there for."

Also responding to the fire, Bethany, Caledonia, Perry Center, Wyoming, Mercy EMS and the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, along with Emergency Management. 

A large response was needed, Yaeger said, because of a shortage of manpower.

To volunteer with your local fire department, visit ReadyGenesee.com.

Photos by Howard Owens.

A caller reports everybody is out of the two residences.

The second floor is reportedly involved.

Pavilion, Le Roy, and Stafford dispatched on the first alarm.  A second alarm is called with City Fire's Fast Team, Bethany, and Mercy EMS.

A fully involved mobile home fire is reported at 6972 Swamp Road, Byron.

The caller doesn't believe anybody is at home.  No cars in the driveway.

Byron, South Byron dispatched.  

The chief has requested a second alarm.  

Bergen, Elba, Oakfield, Stafford, and City of Batavia's Fast Team dispatched for the second alarm.

UPDATE 11:39 p.m.: Barre and Brockport were being dispatched to provide tankers but the chief on scene said the tankers can be canceled and requests a fill-in at the Byron Fire Hall.

UPDATE 12:05 a.m.: Stafford is filling in at Byron's hall.  Le Roy is going to fill in at South Byron's hall. The fire has been knocked down.  National Grid requested to the scene.

UPDATE 12:07 a.m.: A fire investigator requested to the scene.

A structure fire is reported at 10805 South Street Road, Pavilion.

The structure is an abandoned house.

The initial call, from a passerby, was for a rubbish fire in the roadway at that location and that trees were on fire.

Pavilion Fire dispatched with mutual aid from Bethany, Stafford, and Perry Center.

A mobile home that was torn down is now reportedly on fire at Clipknock Road and Torrey Road, Bethany.

There is no exposure to other structures.

Bethany Fire and Stafford Fire dispatched.

UPDATE 11:34 p.m.: A first responder reports no smoke or fire. "The trailer is completely gone. There's a dumpster. There's no fire at all."  Both assignments can go back in service.  The "fire" was reported by a passerby.

UPDATE 11:42 p.m.: Now Bethany and Stafford are dispatched to 9525 Clipknock Road for the report of an unattended controlled burn, a brush fire.

A lithium battery is the likely cause of a small fire in a hotel room at the Red Roof Inn on Park Road in Batavia, according to a release from the Town of Batavia Fire Department.

The town was dispatched on an alarm of fire at 9:30 p.m., Wednesday, and hotel staff confirmed a short time later that there was a fire in a guest room.

The hotel was evacuated.

The fire, contained to a small corner of the room, was put out with an extinguisher and the structure was ventilated. Guests were allowed to return to their rooms a short time later.

A hotel guest sustained a minor burn on a foot and was transported by Mercy EMS to an area hospital for treatment.

According to the Department, the cause of the fire was a lithium-ion battery from a remote control car that overheated while being charged.

The Sheriff's Office assisted at the scene.

A wheat field fire was reported at 2:12 p.m. at 2281 Brown Road, East Pembroke, in a back field.

East Pembroke Fire responded. 

The chief requested Elba's utility transport vehicle and Alexander's UTV, because they have pumps on them, to the scene.  Alexander Fire, Indian Falls, Alabama, and Darien Fire also dispatched. Alden Fire, which was on scene at the Darien accident, volunteered to bring their UTV to the fire and was dispatched.  Crittenden Fire was also dispatched.

Town of Batavia Fire was placed on standby in quarters.  A Mercy EMS basic life support unit was requested to the scene.

The fire was reported out at about 3:10 p.m.

A farm truck has reportedly pulled down electrical wires in the area of 7850 Tesnow Road, Alabama.

A fire has started in an adjoining field.

The driver is trapped in the truck.

Alabama Fire dispatched along with mutual aid from Pembroke and Indian Falls.

Fire police requested to close traffic at Wright Road and Akron Road.

UPDATE 12:32 p.m.: National Grid arrived on scene about 15 minutes ago.

UPDATE 2:58 p.m.: According to a fire chief, there were no injuries to the driver and no damage to the truck or trailer. 

A fire was reported at 103 Washington Ave., Batavia.

The fire was apparently out by the time City Fire was on scene. Firefighters are checking for extension.

It's a multi-unit dwelling and all occupants appear to be out of the building.

A barn fire with flames showing is reported at 7000 Park Avenue, Oakfield, between Judge Road and Seneca Street.

Oakfield Fire dispatched.

UPDATE 6:10 p.m.: Alabama, Elba, East Pembroke, and City of Batavia Fast Team requested to the scene.

UPDATE 6:12 p.m.: City Fire's second platoon requested to headquarters.

UPDATE 6:21 p.m.: East Pembroke can go back in service. Elba staging at the scene.

A shed fire is reported at 6410 Freeman Road, Byron.

Byron, South Byron, and Stafford fire departments are dispatched.

A fence is reportedly on fire at 111 Liberty St., Batavia, about one foot from a garage.

The structure is not involved at this time.

City Fire dispatched.

UPDATE 6:24 p.m.: Fire appears to be out. Firefighters checking for extension.

Dispatchers received a report of a large amount of smoke in the area of Oak and Richmond in Batavia.

A Batavia PD officer reported finding a resident on Oak burning a large amount of cardboard.

City Fire responded and a scene commander informed dispatchers, "approved containers. The homeowner was advised not to burn cardboard anymore."

City Fire is back in service.

A dump truck is reported on fire in the area of 4868 Batavia Elba Townline Road, Batavia.

Town of Batavia Fire dispatched along with mutual aid from Elba.