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Car fire in garage on Garfield Avenue, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

A car fire is reported at 11 Garfield Ave., Batavia.

The car is in a garage.

The garage is not attached to a house.

City fire responding.

UPDATE 8:39 p.m.: A second alarm is sounded. Alexander's Fast Team requested to the scene. Town of Batavia to stand by in headquarters.

UPDATE 8:42 p.m.: Town of Batavia now requested to the scene.

UPDATE 1:25 a.m.: Photo by Frank Capuano added. I shot video at the scene a little later. It's taking forever, for some reason, to upload to YouTube. I'm going to bed and will add the video in the morning.

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Woman believed critically hurt in early morning fire on Ellicott Street, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

A resident at 511 Ellicott St., Batavia, was seriously hurt in a 1:57 a.m. fire, according to City Fire Chief Stefano Napolitano.

The woman was rescued from a second-floor bedroom by firefighters shortly after the alarm came into City Station.

It took city crews about three minutes to arrive on scene, Napolitano said.

The victim was transported to UMMC by Mercy EMS and then transferred to Strong Memorial Hospital. Napolitano said he believed her to be in critical condition with lung damage.

Her name has not yet been released.

The fire may have started in the kitchen area, cause unknown at this time, but the fire is still under investigation, the chief said.

When the first crew arrived, heavy smoke and flames were showing from a first-floor window on the east side of the structure. Firefighters made an aggressive initial attack, he said, while other firefighters used a ladder to reach a second-floor window to rescue the woman who was trapped upstairs.

Five adults and one child lived in the two apartments, according to the chief, and the four other adults and the child escaped the fire unharmed.

All have been provided shelter by the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross will provide further assistance.

One apartment unit is still habitable, the chief said, but all utilities were cut off during the fire and have not yet been restored.

The fire quickly went to a second alarm and additional city crews responded. Alexander Fire's Fast Team also responded along with a heavy rescue truck from Le Roy Fire Department to assist with refilling air bottles. Town of Batavia fire filled in at the city fire station to cover city calls during the incident.

Batavia PD and Batavia DPW also assisted at the scene.

Photos by Frank Capuano.

House fire on East Avenue, Batavia

By James Burns

City of Batavia Fire responded to a call of a house fire on 18 East Avenue early Saturday morning. The fire started the up stairs unit bathroom.

A smoke detector alerted the couple living up there that there was a fire. They called 9-1-1 and woke the tenant on the first floor alerting her to the fire. All evacuated safely and are currently being give aid by he neighbors. Two cats remain in the building.

The fire is knocked down. Building is being ventilated.

East Avenue is currently closed between Ross and Vine streets.

UPDATE 4:10 a.m.: One cat made it out on its own, the second cat was rescued by Batavia fire and is being given oxygen. There was also an infant in the upstairs apartment who was evacuated safely and appears to be fine but is being evaluated by EMS.

Initial investigation indicates the fire was ignited by faulty electrical in the upstairs bathroom.

Man seriously burned in Walden Estates fire Monday listed in satisfactory condition at Strong

By Billie Owens

A man who suffered serious burns Monday night after a kitchen fire broke out in Apartment #44 at Walden Estates on Bank Street in Batavia is now listed as being in satisfactory condition at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Batavia Fire Chief Stefano Napolitano has not officially released his name.

Firefighters were on scene in under four minutes from the time they were dispatched at 9:13 p.m. Aug. 26.

They encountered heavy smoke and fire conditions on the first and second floor of the apartment in the five-unit building. Crews were able to bring the fire under control within 20 minutes.

Two occupants inside of the apartment both escaped, but one was seriously burned and was taken via Mercy ambulance to Strong. 

Two cats perished in the blaze.

Residents of the two adjoining units were temporarily relocated due to light smoke conditions within their residence. A total of four persons were assisted by the American Red Cross with food and sheltering.

The city fire investigation continues but officials say it does not appear to be incendiary in nature.

For the fire department's press release about the fire, click here.

For the initial post, click here.

Photo courtesy of Frank Capuano.

One person seriously burned, two cats die in Monday's kitchen fire at Walden Estates apartment

By Billie Owens

From the City of Batavia Fire Department:

At approximately 9:13 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 26, the City of Batavia Fire Department was dispatched to a possible kitchen fire at Walden Estates, 337 Bank St., apt. #44. First arriving fire units responded and were on scene in under four minutes from time of dispatch.

Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire conditions on the first and second floor of apartment #44, which was one unit of a five-unit building. The responding crews began extinguishment and search-and-rescue operations and were able to bring the fire under control within 20 minutes.

At the time of the fire, there were two occupants inside of the apartment. Both were able to escape with one person suffering serious burns. The victim was transported by Mercy EMS to Strong Hospital in Rochester for treatment. At this there is no further information as to the victim’s condition.

Additionally, there were two cats in the residence that were located by firefighters that unfortunately perished due to fire conditions.

While the fire was confined and contained to the apartment of origin, the residents of the two adjoining units were temporarily relocated due to light smoke conditions within their residence. A total of four persons were assisted by the American Red Cross with food and sheltering.

At this time the City of Batavia’s Fire Investigation team is investigating the fire to determine the cause and origin. 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 Town of Batavia, Alexander, Le Roy fire departments along with Genesee County Emergency Management, Mercy EMS and the American Red Cross.

(Top photo courtesy of Frank Capuano.)

Structure fire reported at 337 Bank St., Apt. 44, at the Walden Estates Apartments, Batavia

By Billie Owens

A second-alarm fire is reported at 337 Bank St. at the Walden Estates Apartments, Apt. #44, in Batavia. A man who lives there has burns on his arms and an ambulance is called in non-emergency mode.

The address is between Ross and Vines streets in the city. City fire and Alexander's Fast Team are called to the scene, along with Le Roy Fire Department.

This call was initially toned out as a kitchen fire.

UPDATE 9:33 p.m.: City Engine #12 is on scene.

UPDATE 9:37 p.m.: Responders are asked to bring overhaul tools to the scene.

UPDATE 9:44 p.m.: Batavia command tells Alexander the fire is mostly knocked down.

UPDATE 9:45 p.m.: Command reports fire is knocked down; overhaul commencing.

UPDATE 11:51 p.m.: The American Red Cross was reported en route about 10 minutes ago to assist the displaced occupants of the burned-out apartment.

Photos by Frank Capuano.

Kitchen fire reported at Northside Meadows Apartments, Batavia

By Billie Owens

A kitchen fire is reported at the Northside Meadows Apartments at 335 Bank St.. City fire is on scene. The apartment has been evacuated.

UPDATE 6:55 p.m.: They are trying to find a phone number for a building rep, so dispatch can call and request them to the scene. A former tenant advises a poster listing contact information is inside a hall in the building.

Controlled burn reported on Summit Street in the city

By Billie Owens

City firefighters are on Summit Street investigating a controlled burn in the vicinity after a caller to dispatch reported smoke in the area.

UPDATE 4:26 p.m.: The blaze was actually a small campfire behind property in the 100-200 block of Bank Street. It has been extinguished.

Burning tires reported at residence on Railroad Avenue in Alexander

By Billie Owens

The Department of Environmental Conservation called the Genesee County Dispatch Center to report the possibility of tires being burned on Railroad Avenue in Alexander. A first responder checked it out and found the location to be 3543 Railroad Ave.

Alexander Fire Department was called to respond, but the first responder on scene says he spoke to the homeowner who said he would put the fire out.

"He's just got a small fire burning here and he's going to put it out now," the first responder says.

No police response warranted, but DEC will follow up for a report tomorrow.

UPDATE 4:53 p.m.: Fire is out. Assignment is back in service.

Deck fire reported on Myrtle Street in Village of Le Roy

By Billie Owens

A deck is on fire at 99 Myrtle St. in the Village of Le Roy. It is attached to the house. Le Roy fire is responding along with an engine from the city and mutual aid from Bergen. The landlord is on scene. Flames and smoke are showing. Le Roy police and medics are on scene. The location is between Craigie and Gilbert streets.

The road is being shut down at Myrtle and Craigie, and at Myrtle and Gilbert.

UPDATE 3:05 p.m.: The fire was put out about 20 minutes ago. The roads are reopened.

UPDATE 3:09 a.m.: The Le Roy assignment was put back in service a minute ago, but a unit will remain on scene "until the homeowner arrives."

Flower box fire reported

By Howard B. Owens

A flower box fire is reported at 335 Northside Meadows, Batavia.

City fire responding.

Car fire reported five feet away from residence on Wolcott Street in Le Roy

By Billie Owens

A car fire, five feet from a residence, is reported at 81 Wolcott St., between Union and Clay streets in the Village of Le Roy. Le Roy Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 12:34 p.m.: A first responder on scene reports a working car fire.

UPDATE 12:36 p.m.: A chief at the scene says "fire appears to be knocked down. Continue the equipment."

UPDATE 12:51 p.m.: The Le Roy assignment is back in service.

Open burn reported on Pearl Street in the city

By Billie Owens

An open burn in the city is reported at 130 Pearl St. City fire and law enforcement are responding. The location is between Roosevelt Avenue and Brooklyn Avenue.

Porch fire reported on Quaker Hill Road, Elba

By Howard B. Owens

A porch fire with flames showing is reported at 6145 Quaker Hill Road, Elba.

Elba fire dispatched.

UPDATE 2:42 a.m.: An engine from Town of Batavia and a tanker from Oakfield requested to the scene.

UPDATE 2:50 p.m.: Barre had been dispatched but Elba command has said Barre can stand down.

UPDATE 3:42 p.m.: Fire is out. It was contained to the front porch. No extensions. Elba assignment back in service.

Possible attic fire reported on East Main Street in the city

By Billie Owens
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A possible fire is reported in the attic of a house at 319 E. Main St. The location is between Ross and Liberty streets. The structure has been evacuated. City fire is responding.

The second platoon is called to city fire headquarters.

UPDATE 7:49 a.m.: Town of Batavia Fire Department is called to city fire headquarters as mutual aid.

UPDATE 8:13 a.m.: Mercy medics are called to the scene for firefighters' rehab.

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