A possible chimney fire is reported on Horseshoe Lake Road. Stafford and Town of Batavia fire departments are responding.
UPDATE 8:14 p.m.: Le Roy Fire Police are requested to shut down Horseshoe Lake Road at Prole Road.
City firefighters rescued three people trapped in an apartment during an early morning fire at 2 Lewis Place.
The fire was put out quickly, but upon arriving at scene at 1:30 a.m., firefighters had to first use a ladder to a second-floor window to rescue two adults and one child.
City police officers got two other adults out of the lower apartment.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The fire was in the second-floor apartment.
The fire went to a second alarm because of the potential for the fire to spread into the attic of the row of apartments on Lewis Place. Town of Batavia fire was put on standby. Alexander's FAST team was requested to the scene. Darien fire was requested for their air bottle refill capabilities. Mercy EMS was on scene on standby.
Before other units arrived, they were told to back down from an emergency response because the fire was knocked down.
Four adults and one child were provided temporary housing by Red Cross.
City fire was back in service at 3:45 a.m.
Photo: Photo submitted by Kameko Barlog.
A structure fire is reported at 2 Lewis Place in the city. The third platoon is called to the scene along with Alexander's fast team and Emergency Services Unit #2. Town of Batavia is asked to stand by in its quarters.
UPDATE 1:48 a.m.: Fire is knocked down. Those en route are told they can respond non-emergency.
A fire in the oven is reported at 24 Buell St. City fire is responding.
UPDATE 12:52 p.m.: Firefighters on scene report light smoke is coming from the two-story frame house.
UPDATE 12:55 p.m.: Fire contained to the oven. House is charged with smoke. Now ventilating.
A residential structure fire with people trapped is reported at 7197 Griswold Road, Le Roy.
Le Roy fire and Bergen fire dispatch.
UPDATE 7:30 a.m.: Stafford fire requested to the scene.
UPDATE(S) by Billie 7:35 a.m.: Everyone is out of the structure. Command reports the fire is possibly out.
UPDATE 7:38 a.m.: Pavilion has also been called and Caledonia is asked to stand by in Le Roy's fire hall.
UPDATE 7:43 a.m.: Caledonia is canceled.
UPDATE 10:36 a.m.: According to Alecia Kaus, Video News Service, who went to the scene, one of the residents (one of the people reportedly "trapped") stayed in the house and put out the fire himself.
The back porch of the residence at 249 Ross St. is reportedly on fire. The blaze was called in to dispatch by a neighbor who is unsure if the house is occupied. City fire just arrived and there's no smoke showing.
UPDATE 1:49 p.m.: Command reports smoke is showing from the rear of the wood frame structure.
UPDATE 1:51 p.m.: Command says the fire is in a wall and is "out of control."
UPDATE 1:52 p.m.: Dispatch has made contact with the homeowner who returning home now.
UPDATE 2:09 p.m.: Fire is out. Firefighters are picking up and preparing to leave the scene.
UPDATE (by Howard): An alert neighbor and quick response by City Fire is probably what saved this house. Damage to the back porch, railing, eaves and smoke damage along the back of the house, showing it was minutes, if not seconds, from spreading extensively before it was put out.
There is tire fire, reported as a "large tire fire," at 7508 Swamp Road, Bergen.
Byron Fire dispatched.
UPDATE Sunday: The resident at 7508 Swamp Road e-mailed to say the tire fire was not at this address.
A BBQ grill out of control is reported at 106 North St. in the city. It's close to a garage. City fire is responding.
UPDATE 9:40 p.m.: Command reports the fire is within city code. The city assignment is back in service.
A working stove fire is confirmed at 3517 Railroad Ave. in Alexander. Smoke is showing. The stove is centrally located in the residence. Alexander fire is responding and Town of Batavia, as mutual aid, is called to the scene. The location is next to Z&M Ag and Turf.
UPDATE 5:19 p.m.: This is now a working house fire. Equipment from East Pembroke and Bethany are also called in, along with a tanker from Darien. Plus, a crew from Darien is asked to stand by in Alexander's quarters.
UPDATE 5:31 p.m.: Help from Attica is on the way, too.
UPDATE 5:36 p.m.: A search has confirmed there is no one inside the house.
UPDATE 5:54 p.m.: East Pembroke and Darien tankers are returned to service.
UPDATE 6:25 p.m.: All units back in service.
A fully involved pickup truck fire is reported at Selden Road and Route 19. Town of Le Roy fire is responding.
UPDATE 1:56 p.m.: Le Roy ambulance is called to the scene to aid a firefighter with a possible head injury.
A possible residential structure fire is reported at 8 Farnsworth Ave., Oakfield. The home is filled with smoke. Oakfield command on scene reporting nothing showing. Alabama fire is asked to stand by in quarters in case needed.
UPDATE 11:21 a.m.: Command tells the crew headed to the scene to check out the basement, which smells like smoke.
UPDATE 12:34 p.m.: The problem was a "burnt cooler motor." Responders are back in service.
A barn fire is reported at 7629 Sand Hill Road "at the curve," on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. Alabama, Pembroke, Indian Falls and Akron fire departments are responding. One caller to dispatch so far.
UPDATE 8:34 p.m.: Indian Falls and another unit are returning to service. No status reported on the blaze.
UPDATE 8:50 p.m.: All responders back in service.
A tree is down with wires across the roadway on Main Road, Stafford, near Fargo Road.
Stafford fire is responding.
UPDATE 7:13 p.m.: Traffic is being slowed, not stopped, on Route 5.
City fire is on scene at 14 Holland Ave. after a report of smoke filling the residence. Firefighters say nothing is showing, investigating. It is a two-and-a-half story structure. The caller in another apartment evacuated the building.
UPDATE 6:02 p.m.: Command reports a possible "appliance burn out."
UPDATE 6:14 p.m.: A burned-out washing machine motor is deemed to be the culprit. This assignment is back in service.
Smoke is reported on the first floor of a residence at 3625 Telephone Road, Alexander.
Alexander fire is responding. Town of Batavia also dispatched.
A chief reports, "we've got smoke in the house. It smells like trash. I can't find anything." He asked another responder to check a neighbor's property.
A responder reports, "nobody's burning anything in the area."
A chief asks for the thermal camera.
UPDATE 9 a.m.: Alexander returning in service.
UPDATE 9:08 a.m.: At 9, two Alexander trucks went back in service. Now the assignment is back in service. The chief reports, "burnt hummingbird feeder."
A fire is reported in the yard at Ed Arnold Scrap Processors, 2210 Angling Road, Corfu. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding. Town of Batavia fire is called to stand by in East Pembroke's hall and a tanker from Indian Falls is requested.
UPDATE 4:37 a.m.: Equipment from Darien and Alexander are also requested to the scene.
UPDATE 4:46 a.m.: Oakfield Fire Police are to shut down traffic at Route 33 and Angling Road; Corfu Fire Police are to shut down traffic at Route 5 and Angling Road. Pembroke and Alabama fire departments are called in.
UPDATE 5:28 a.m.: An engine from Oakfield is requested to fill in at East Pembroke's fire hall. Mutual aid from Newstead is called to stand by in Indian Falls. Mercy medics are responding non-emergency mode to the scene.
UPDATE 5:58 p.m.: An engine from Elba is requested to fill in at East Pembroke's hall.
UPDATE: Reader submitted photo:
The likely culprit in Saturday's fire Le Roy that destroyed the home of Greg and David Luetticke-Archbell is electrical.
Whether it was an electric device that first caught on fire or wiring in a wall hasn't been determined.
There is no evidence of any deliberate action that caused the fire.
Jim Bouton, a coordinator and investigator with Genesee County Office of Emergency Management, discussed the investigator's findings with The Batavian this morning.
"On the report it will say the cause is undetermined," Bouton said. "The primary principle is electrical."
The fire started in the garage, Bouton said, not on the porch as initially reported.
Also, the explosion during the fire was caused by backdraft, which is caused by the rapid reintroduction of oxygen into an enclosed area where oxygen has been depleted by fire.
There was lots of fuel available for a fire -- what firefighters call "fire load" -- big wood beams and all of the accoutrements of a modern lifestyle.
Bouton said these days people have a lot more polyester, plastic and other flammable materials around the house, which is just fuel for flames.
In the Luetticke-Archbell garage there was a motorbike, snowmobile and woodchipper, all with gasoline in the tanks, not to mention the fiberglass of the snowmobile to add fuel to the fire.
The house at 8005 North Road was built in 1806. There had been many upgrades to the residence, including upgraded electrical, Bouton said, but that still doesn't mean an electrical problem can't creep up.
Asked how concerned other residents should be about electrical fires, Bouton explained people should pay attention to how they're using electric and what's going on with the electric in their house.
Houses built before the electronic gadget age are susceptible to problems.
Most people don't understand how they overload their circuits.
(NOTE: During our conversation, Bouton wanted to make it clear he wasn't implying Greg and David did anything to cause the fire -- the cause remains undetermined.)
Bouton used this example: In your bathroom you probably have a 15-amp circuit. You plug in a curling iron and hair blower. Each draws 1,500 watts. Divide those 3,000 watts by 120 voltage and you're drawing 25 amps on a single 15-amp circuit.
That overload causes wires to heat and over time the wires become damaged.
It can take many years, but it's a fire hazard.
If you read the instructions for your microwave, refrigerator and freezer, you are warned that each should be on their own 20-amp circuit. Often, however, people just plug these items in with no consideration to what circuits they're on.
For those of us using power strips for our home entertainment centers or desk areas, chances are the devices are not drawing enough concurrent electricity to create a problem, but the preponderance of electronic devices -- mobile phone chargers, computers in every room, TVs in multiple rooms, etc., should be a concern.
In older homes, the fusebox has been replaced by a circuit breaker (perhaps not by a licensed electrician), Bouton said, but it's still a 60-amp service when it should be 100 amps for all the electronics in a typical home today.
If your lights flicker when you turn on electronics, or you keep blowing a circuit breaker, perhaps you're overloading circuits, Bouton said.
Bouton noted that it's ironic that in the City of Batavia, only a licensed plumber can do plumbing work in another person's home, but there's no prohibition against using unlicensed electricians.
Bouton recommends using licensed electricians for any wiring or rewiring for inspecting any suspected issues with circuits.
"I'm not saying we have a big problem out there, but people should be aware," Bouton said. "If you've got a question call an electrician."
Don't let the crime scene tape mislead you. Officials are not calling their search for the cause of Saturday morning's fire at 8005 North Road, Le Roy, a criminal investigation.
But arson hasn't been ruled out, either.
Nothing's been ruled out.
Today, investigators from the Sheriff's Office, Emergency Services and the State of New York, were going over every inch of rubble looking for signs and clues. Le Roy FD's ladder truck was brought in at one point so investigators could obtain aerial photos of the site. The property's owners, Greg and David Luetticke-Archbell came to their house to explain to investigators what was where.
Jim Bouton, an emergency management coordinator and fire investigator with the county, said officials may be ready to discuss theories and findings soon.
Previously:
Greg, David and their children lost all of their personal belongings in the fire. A site for community donations has been set up. Click here to access the site.
This thermostat is on a shed about 100 feet from the west side of the house. Radiant heat turned it into a curly fry.
A house is reportedly filling with smoke at 1033 Broadway Road, just west of Warner Road. Darien Fire Department is responding.
UPDATE 6:59 p.m.: The homeowner says they contacted National Grid three hours ago to report a possible electrical problem, but never received a response. GC Dispatch is attempting to reach the power company to get an ETA.
UPDATE 7:14 p.m.: National Grid has upgraded the call, but still no ETA. A thermal imaging camera is requested.
UPDATE 7: 32 p.m.: National Grid is on scene.
A garage fire is reported in the city next to the residence at 12 Montclair Ave. Engine 11 and Ladder 15 are en route.
UPDATE 12:56 p.m.: Responders report smoke showing from a detached garage.
UPDATE 12:57 p.m.: The fire has gone to a second alarm.
UPDATE 12:59 p.m.: The Fast Team is called to the scene.
UPDATE 1:01 p.m.: All off-duty city fire personnel called to the scene along with Darien Fire Department. Town of Batavia fire is asked to stand by in the town's hall.
UPDATE 1:06 p.m.: Scene command reports the fire is knocked down. Alexander's Fast Team is called to respond non-emergency.
Copyright © 2008-2022 The Batavian. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
