Two-story house fire on Route 20 in Alexander

A two-story house fire is reported in Alexander at 3971 Broadway Road -- Route 20.

The location is between Brown's Mill and Telephone roads.

Alexander Fire Department is responding, along with a ladder truck and tanker from the Town of Batavia.

East Pembroke and Darien will also be helping or on standby. Other mutual aid companies are en route or at the ready also, including Bethany, Stafford, Pavilion and Attica.

It has gone to a second alarm. The initial call reported a barn fire.

Responders are asking for the Sheriff's Department to shut down part of Route 20 to traffic.

UPDATE 6:56 p.m.: Responders say they need lights and tools to open the structure up for ventilation. A pond across the road may be one source of water to fight the fire.

UPDATE 7:13 p.m.: Dispatch says traffic is snarled at the "cloverleaf" in Alexander -- the junction of routes 98 and 20 -- and there's not yet traffic police to re-route vehicles.

UPDATE 7:18 p.m.: National Grid is on scene.

UPDATE 7:22 p.m.: The City of Batavia's Fast Team is called in. A firefighter is heard to say "Holy S%#@!" followed by something about a propane tank being located at the rear of the building.

UPDATE 7:35 p.m.: A firefighter says the propane tank "has been secured." The fourth platoon from the City of Batavia is called to city fire headquarters to stand in.

UPDATE 7:41 p.m.: It seems like sort of a scramble at this point to get enough water. A crew is trying to "get a draft" out of a hydrant on West Bethany Road, with apparently little success thus far.

UPDATE 8:05 p.m.: Fire police are requested at Tapp Road to handle the overflow of traffic from the main thoroughfares. "It's just me, myself and Jill," comes the response, "Tractor-trailer traffic is backed up all the way to my house." The reply: "We'll make do." Also, a tanker from York has been asked to fill in at Pavilion.

UPDATE 8:12 p.m.: Reportedly there are two law enforcement officers west of Route 20 handling traffic control and dispatch notified them that in the next 20 to 30 minutes, personnel from the American Red Cross will be coming through. That usually means people have been displaced from their home and need emergency assistance. Also, an engine from East Pembroke has been called to fill in at the Alexander Fire Hall.

UPDATE 8:21 p.m.: Good progress is being made on the second floor of the structure, says a firefighter. The traffic on the outlying roadways is another matter. It was suggested that traffic be diverted to Brookville Road. But a traffic officer says backed-up semis have been pulling out into the roadway -- wherever it is that they are stuck -- and the others are "getting antsy." Plus, icy roads could especially pose a problem for the heavy-laden truckers. "I say have 'em wait. Do what you have to do," says the man in charge. A bit later, the supervisor says "if they don't want to go, tell them to put their flashers on and go to the next (truck). Make it quick though." Now Darien is asked to standby in Alexander and it is suggested that maybe they should give Alden Fire Department a call, too.

UPDATE 8:43 p.m.: The fire has spread to the attic. The crew from Alden is en route to standby at the Alexander hall.

UPDATE 8:46 p.m.: A big-rig driver asks if he can go down Route 354, down into Wyoming County. The officer checks with his superior who says "It's too slick. No way."

UPDATE 9:32 p.m.: They say they are just mopping up and doing overhaul at this point. So clearing out traffic from around the scene is probably the biggest task at hand. Hey, now there's some pizza and coffee for the hard-working crews.