fire

A house fire is reported at 142 Hutchins St., Batavia.

City Fire dispatched.

UPDATE 5:05 p.m.: The fire may be in the basement.  Residents are evacuated. 

UPDATE 5:25 p.m: The fire was related to a washer and dryer in the basement; it is now out, and the home is being ventilated.

A garage fire was reported at 7504 Norton Road, Elba, at about 5:45 a.m. and the fire spread to the adjoining house and though the house was saved by volunteer firefighters, two residents and a dog have been temporarily displaced, according to Elba Fire Chief Mike Heale.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Heale confirmed there was some sort of explosion in the garage during the fire but the object that exploded was not identified at the time of his interview this morning.

The fire went to a second alarm, Heale said, to ensure there was enough manpower to fight the fire in frigid weather. The temperature was two degrees this morning, which means crews need to rotate frequently to stay warm.  The cold weather also creates slippery conditions for firefighters as water freezes quickly.

No injuries were reported.

Reporting and photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

Press release:

On Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at 11:51 am, the City of Batavia Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 22 Porter Ave. in the City of Batavia. Initial fire units arrived at 11:54 am to find a large volume of smoke emanating from a two-and-a-half-story, single-family home. Fire crews entered the home to find a fire in the attic space that was quickly extinguished. Two occupants were home at the time of the fire and escaped unharmed prior to the fire department's arrival. Residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross.

No civilian injuries were reported. There was one minor firefighter injury reported.

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

The City of Batavia Fire Department was assisted by the City of Batavia Police, Bureau of Maintenance, Water and Codes Department, Town of Batavia FD, Alexander FD, Elba FD, Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center and Emergency Management Office, Red Cross, National Grid and National Fuel 

When Brian Schollard, a deputy coordinator with Genesee County Emergency Services and a former Corfu fire chief, arrives this afternoon at 13 East Main St., Corfu, he found heavy smoke coming from an attic window and a man hanging from the window trying to escape from the smoke.

Since no fire crews were on scene yet, he checked with a business across the street and the business did in fact have a tall ladder available.

Schollard and a Corfu patrol officer worked together to get the ladder in place and Schollard climbed to the attic window and helped the man, who has not been identified, down.

The victim had cuts on his feet and possible minor smoke inhalation, Schollard said.  He was taken to an area hospital for treatment and evaluation.

The cause of the fire is under investigation for Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Yaeger said it appeared to have started on the first floor.

(Initial Report)

A structure fire is reported at 13 East Main St., Corfu.

There are reportedly flames showing with a person hanging from a second-floor window.

Corfu fire along with a second alarm including the City of Batavia's Fast Team, East Pembroke, Darien, Pembroke, and Indian Falls, responding.

UPDATE 2:47 p.m.: One person was rescued from an attic window by a former Corfu chief and a Corfu police officer using a ladder borrowed from a local business before the first fire crews arrived on scene. The patient was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor wounds and possible smoke inhalation.  The fire was knocked down quickly by the first crews on scene. Pembroke Fire is back in service.  Video TK.

UPDATE 3:04 p.m.: All units back in service.

A structure fire is reported at 3687 West Main Street Road, Batavia, following a possible furnace explosion.

The building is reportedly unoccupied. 

Town of Batavia Fire and East Pembroke Fire responding.

UPDATE 5:03 p.m.: A second alarm requested.

UPDATE 5:08 p.m.: Route  5 is being closed to traffic in both directions, at Kelsey Road, and at Wortendyke.

UPDATE 5:20 p.m.: Corfu to fill in at East Pembroke. 

UPDATE 5:25 p.m.: Mercy EMS requested to the scene to stand by.  National Grid requested to the scene.  The fire is knocked down. Firefighters are starting overhaul.

UPDATE 5:36 p.m.: Code enforcement and Red Cross are responding.

UPDATE 8:20 p.m. (Photos and info via Alecia Kaus/Video News Service): Whether a furnace exploded in connection with the fire is under investigation, said Don Newton, the East Pembroke fire chief. The fire appears to have started on the second floor and the furnace is in the attic, Newton said. While Newton was in route to the fire, a firefighter first on scene called Newton on his mobile phone and informed him there was heavy smoke but no visible flames. Before Newton arrived, the firefighter called back and said flames had broken through the rear of the structure. Newton called for a second alarm.  There was apparently no one home when the fire started. Once firefighters confirmed the house was vacant they searched for pets and most of the pets appear to have escaped the fire, Newton said. There is heavy smoke damage throughout the structure and the structure is not habitable. 

When Bergen Assistant Chief Garrett Dean arrived on the scene of a structure fire at 84 Woodside Lane, in the Hidden Valley Meadow Park, Thursday night, he observed a mobile home with flames shooting out of one corner of the residence and was informed by a neighbor that a woman may be trapped inside.

The neighbor said he had tried kicking in the front door but the door was blocked, possibly by the woman who lived there.

Dean said he was able to reach around the door, grab her and carry her to safety with the help of the neighbor.

"They said they talked to the neighbors and the neighbors said they were pounding on the door, but couldn't get a reply," Dean said. "I believe the neighbor that was pounding on the door was the one that actually kicked the door in and when I got on location helped me get her out."

At first, the woman wasn't breathing, Dean said. With the assistance of the neighbor, he used first-aid techniques to get her breathing again.

It felt like minutes but was probably only about 30 seconds, he said.

The resident, whose name has not been released, was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital but Dean said he's been informed she may be transferred to Syracuse for a higher level of treatment for her smoke inhalation.

"She was very lucky," Dean said. "It's a good thing this is a very tight-knit community. They're all older adults that live here and they take very good care of each other."

Departments from three counties responded to the fire.

The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation.

A firefighter at the scene also needed treatment at the scene for minor smoke inhalation but remained on scene following treatment.

Top photo: Reader-submitted.  Bottom photos, Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

Alecia Kaus/Video News Service contributed to this story.

A mobile home fire is reported at 84 Woodside Lane, in the Hidden Valley Meadow Park, Bergen.

One person has been taken from the residence by a firefighter.

Bergen Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched

UPDATE 8:04 p.m.: This is a working structure fire.  Byron, South Byron, Stafford, responding. 

A fully involved tractor-trailer fire is reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 384 in the westbound lane.

Le Roy Fire is on scene.

The cargo is unknown at this time. 

Dispatchers received multiple calls about the fire.

UPDATE 12:46 p.m.: Town of Batavia requested to the scene.

UPDATE 12:54 p.m: Batavia and Bergen can go back in service. Fire is knocked down.

Pembroke and Indian Falls Fire responded to a car fire on Main Road, Pembroke, in front of Pembroke Fire Hall at 10:23 a.m.

The fire was extinguished quickly.  Corfu Fire was also dispatched and later canceled.

Photos submitted by a reader. 

A multi-unit residence at North and Ross is suspected of having a small electrical wiring fire "in the wall or something," according to the property owner. All inhabitants were able to safely evacuate the structure. Ross Street is closed south of North Street.  

An ambulance fire is reported 5056 East Main Street, Batavia the Genesee County Fairgrounds.

A chief on scene says the ambulance is fully involved.

Town of Batavia Fire responding.

A fully involved house fire is reported at 6718 Swamp Road, Byron.

Byron and South Byron responding. 

A second alarm is called with Bergen, Elba, Oakfield, and the City's Fast Team dispatched.

UPDATE 9:37 p.m.: Per command, all tankers can go back in service.

UPDATE 10:25 p.m.: Fire is out and under control, reports command.

UPDATE 8 a.m.:  Reported by Alecia Kaus: "According to Genesee County Fire investigators, one person was home at the time of the fire. They were able to get out of the house along with the family dog. One cat is still unaccounted for. One other resident who lives in the home was not home at the time. Investigators are looking at a window air conditioning unit as a possible cause of the fire. The home is a total loss. Residents will be staying with family."

Photo by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service

A porch fire was reported at 122 Bank St., Batavia.

City Fire responded. 

Fire is out, commencing overhaul.

For the second day in a row, Bethany fire responded to a field fire, albeit a smaller one this time.

Today's fire call was at 11:44 a.m. and involved a bailer catching fire at the back of his field off of Bethany Center Road.

Also responding were the Alexander, Wyoming, and Pavilion fire departments.

Photos by Glenn Adams.

A grass field fire covering about an acre erupted at about 11:37 a.m. in Stafford at Sweetland and Roanoke roads. It was moving toward a house.

Stafford Fire Command called for mutual aid from Le Roy, which was just wrapping up a response to a vent fire at a business and an accident in front of Le Roy's Tops. Byron also responded.

The fire was knocked down but then hot spots flared up and had to be snuffed out. 

A farmer helped by plowing a furrow around the blaze to help contain it.

Stafford and Byron went back in service at 12:56 p.m.

Photos by Glenn Adams.

A possible structure fire is reported at a business at 53 Church St. in Le Roy. Le Roy fire responding, along with city engine #11.

Village police are on scene. Possibly involves sawdust from a side vent; exterior only. Venting now; building evacuated. Caledonia is also called. All units to proceed until there's confirmation of no smoke or fire.

Orcon Industries is the business located at this address. The vent in question is on the second story.

UPDATE 11:22 a.m.: The city is returning to fire headquarters.

UPDATE 11:25 a.m.: Church Street command says a sawdust vent appears to be faulty; investigating.

UPDATE 11:36 a.m.: Firefighters located a small fire in the dust collectors. It's knocked down and responders are picking up and returning to service.

A combine and field fire is reported off of Townline Road east of Swamp Road in South Byron.

A first responder reports the combine is fully involved.

There is heavy black smoke in the area.

Byron and South Byron dispatched. Mutual aid is requested from Elba.

UPDATE 7:46 p,m.: "Fire is under control. Hitting hot spots."

Ten fire companies, including Town of Batavia and City of Batavia, were called out to Summit Lubricants, 4080 Pearl Street Road, Batavia, for a fire of unknown original late Friday afternoon. It was difficult to suppress because of the industrial setting.

A possible structure fire is reported at 4080 Pearl Street Road, Batavia.

Town of Batavia dispatched and there is a second alarm called for East Pembroke, Darien, and Oakfield to stand by.