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Tractor-trailer fire on Route 20, Bethany

By Howard B. Owens

A reader submitted these photos of a tractor-trailer fire on Route 20 in Bethany that was reported about 20 minutes ago.

Bethany fire and Alexander fire on scene.

Law enforcement is requested to the scene.

The driver got out safely according to the reader.

UPDATE 10:25 p.m.:  Photos by Glenn Adams, Bethany Fire Department. 

Plane spots brush fire in Bethany

By Howard B. Owens

A pilot has called in an apparent brush fire in Bethany, near Ellicott Street Road and Paul Road, perhaps halfway to Bethany Center Road.

Law enforcement and Bethany fire chiefs are trying to confirm the location.

One small controlled burn was found in the area but the area is being checked further.

The plane was in contact with a Rochester tower in Monroe County, which relayed the information to Genesee County dispatch.

UPDATE 6:07 p.m.: A small controlled burn located at Route 63 and Clapsaddle. Still investigating.

UPDATE 6:20 p.m.: Residents burning sticks in their backyard were told to put the fire out, which they did. The Bethany assignment is back in service.

Fire alarm in apartment on State Street, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

City fire is responding to 146 Bank St. for a fire alarm where the caller is blind, hears the alarm and smells smoke.

The resident has gotten out of the residence.

All other occupants are out.

UPDATE 12:57 p.m.: Fire arrived on scene and no evidence of fire nor could they find the caller. Dispatchers called the caller back. City fire is rerouting to 146 State St.

UPDATE 12:59 p.m.: Light smoke coming from the residence.

UPDATE 1 p.m.: Smoldering rag found in the kitchen. Ventilating. 

Car fire reported in front of Batavia Post Office

By Howard B. Owens

A car fire is reported in front of the Post Office in Batavia, 2 W. Main St.

City fire dispatched.

UPDATE 7:56 p.m.: City Fire back in service. A chief reports $2,500 in damage to the vehicle with a cause of the fire being grass built up around the exhaust system.

Smell of smoke reported in house on East Main Road, Le Roy

By Billie Owens

Smoke in the house is reported at 8272 E. Main Road, Le Roy. The caller says you can smell the smoke and smoke detectors have activated. First responders on scene report nothing is showing.

Le Roy Fire Department and Le Roy Ambulance Service are responding. The location is between Church and Linwood roads.

UPDATE 3:29 a.m.: Mumford's Fast Team is called to provide mutual aid to the scene.

UPDATE 3:31 a.m.: Traffic is being shut down on Route 5 at Linwood Road and at Church Road by Le Roy Fire Police.

UPDATE 3:37 a.m.: Stafford Fire Department is called to provide one engine to the scene and Pavilion is asked to fill in at Le Roy's Fire Station on Clay Street.

UPDATE 4:13 a.m.: Command says the furnace was malfunctioning. Three responding units will remain on scene for a few more minutes, he says, and others can pick up and return to service.

Chimney fire reported on Walker Road in Alexander

By Billie Owens

A chimney fire is reported at 2286 Walker Road, Alexander. The location is between Smithley and Hickox roads.

Alexander, Darien and Corfu fire departments are responding, along with Mercy medic #3.

Electrical problem in truck apparent cause of fire next to house in Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

An apparent short in a fuse box caused a truck fire this afternoon at 9380 Route 19, Le Roy.

Le Roy fire responded at 2:05 p.m.

Because the fire was so close to a residential structure, and with a little wind today, 1st Assistant Chief Tom Wood had Pavilion fire stand by in quarters until his firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Wood said the residents were trying to jump-start the truck after it had been sitting for a couple of days and they noticed smoke coming from the fuse box. They went inside to call the dealer and short time later looked out a window and saw flames, so at this point, Wood said, the cause of the fire appears to be electrical.

Photos and video submitted by Russ Hopfer.

Residence reported filling with smoke on Orleans Avenue

By Howard B. Owens

A residence at 9 Orleans Ave., Batavia, is reportedly filling with smoke.

The residents have been told to evacuate.

The building may be a duplex.

City fire responding.

UPDATE 4:21 p.m.: "Nothing showing. Investigating."

UPDATE 4:22 p.m.: Food in the stove. Ventilating.

Fire last week on Columbia Avenue caused by electrical issue, ruled accidental

By Howard B. Owens

A fire at 20 Columbia Ave., Batavia, in the early morning of March 6, appears to have been caused by an electrical issue and was accidental, according to City Fire Chief Steve Napolitano. 

Several animals apparently lost their lives in the fire, though no people were hurt.

The house was owner-occupied by Peter and Marilyn Demmer and five people, including a newborn infant, were home at the time of the fire, which was reported at about 4:15 a.m.

Napolitano did not have a count of how many animals lived at the residence. Firefighters located four deceased pets. One dog escaped the fire.

The structure of the house is sound, Napolitano said, but the interior was a total loss. The ground floor sustained massive damage from heat, smoke and water and the second floor had extensive smoke and heat damage. The total loss estimate is $180,000 to $200,000.

"Firefighters were able to recover some personal items of value to the family," Napolitano said.

Napolitano said the residents were offered assistance by the Salvation Army and Red Cross but he is uncertain if they accepted or made other arrangements on their own.

Working structure fire on Columbia Avenue

By Billie Owens

A working structure fire is reported at 20 Columbia Ave., near Ellsworth Avenue, in the city. City of Batavia Fire Department is responding along with Alexander's Fast team, Town of Batavia and Elba fire.

A second Town of Batavia crew is asked to stand by in quarters.

UPDATE 4:58 a.m.: The Town of Batavia crew standing by in quarters is called to the scene, to join interior firefighters.

UPDATE 5:04 a.m.: There is heavy smoke pouring from the house, but few flames showing. The housing on the street is tightly constricted, and roadway narrow, making it difficult for fire equipment to maneuver at the scene. So those are among the challenges in fighting this fire.

UPDATE 5:09 a.m.: Apparently the occupants have several pets. A dog just came out of the building.

UPDATE 6:20 a.m.: The chief says the fire is under control.

UPDATE 7:45 a.m.: Among the five residents in the house was an infant. All occupants were out safely before firefighters arrived on  scene. It's unclear how many pets lived in the residence. One dog did emerge from the residence during the fire. The cause and origin of the fire is still under investigation but it may have begun with a portable electric heater in the basement.

Fire reported at Hanson Aggregates off Cedar Street, Batavia

By Billie Owens

A working structure fire is reported at Hanson Aggregates off Cedar Street in the City of Batavia. City fire is responding.

There are workers who were working on the silo and some material fell onto the roof and started a fire, which they thought they extinguished, but it reignited, according to the initial caller to the dispatch center.

UPDATE 11:42 a.m.: City command calls the third platoon to headquarters to stand by in quarters.

UPDATE 11:43 a.m.: The fire is out; working now on overhaul and accessing the damaged area of the building. Command says city police can reopen Cedar Street.

UPDATE 11:52 a.m.: Workers were using a blowtorch to cut some metal and slag fell onto the roof, starting the conflagration.

House filling with smoke from wood-burning stove in Darien

By Billie Owens

Smoke from the piping of a wood-burning stove is filling the residence at 1740 Richley Road, Darien. The location is just east of Colby Road. Residents have been advised to evacuate. Darien Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 10:24 a.m.: A firefighter on scene reports there is a possible leak coming from the wood stove in the basement.

UPDATE 10:26 a.m.: Command says Darien can proceed in non-emergency mode.

Vehicle on fire in cornfield off Lake Street Road, Selden Road, Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

A caller reports that he wasn't in an accident, but his car is on fire and it's in a cornfield off of Lake Street Road and Selden Road, Le Roy.

Le Roy fire dispatched. A chief request the first engine out be the brush truck.

UPDATE 7:07 p.m.: Because of the distance off the road, more brush trucks requested to the scene. It is a working fire. Pavilion, Bergen and Stafford all requested to the scene.

Garage fire reported on Porter Avenue in the city

By Billie Owens

A garage fire is reported at 17 Porter Ave. City fire is responding. The location is between West Main Street and Washington Avenue.

UPDATE 6:23 p.m.: Fire is out. Mercy medics responding to a victim with burns on his arm(s).

UPDATE 7 p.m.: According to Lt. Greg Ireland, City fire, a small box was on fire in the garage and the resident had it 95 percent out when firefighters arrived. A fire investigation team from City fire is investigating the cause of the fire. The resident was transported to UMMC for treatment.

Barn fire reported on Buffalo Road, Riga

By Howard B. Owens

A barn fire is reported at 7637 Buffalo Road, Riga. That's in the Bergen Fire District.

Bergen fire responding.

City's Fast team and Mercy EMS dispatched. Le Roy's ladder truck requested to the scene.

A chief on scene reports firefighters will execute an exterior attack only. There are some small explosions, possible fireworks.

UPDATE 6:21 p.m.: The fire is under control and hot spots are being extinguished. Mumford and Churchville also responded to the blaze.

Equipment fire reported at McDonald's in Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

An equipment fire, with smoke and flames showing, is reported at the McDonald's in Le Roy, 57 Main St.

Le Roy fire and Le Roy ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 11:14 a.m.: Caledonia's ladder truck was dispatched. A chief on scene says it can stage in quarters.

UPDATE 11:16 a.m.: Fire is out. Caledonia can go back in service. Health Department and code enforcement requested to the scene.

Skid loader fire reported at farm on Bridge Road, Elba

By Howard B. Owens

A skid loader fire is reported at 5263 Bridge Road, Elba.

The skid loader was in a barn but has been pushed out. The caller believes the barn is OK.

Elba fire responding.

UPDATE 12:54 a.m.: A chief on scene reports the skid loader is fully involved and confirms it is out of the barn.

UPDATE 12:57 a.m.:  Now there are no flames; a chief reports, “The fire looks to be pretty snuffed out at this time.” Responding units can come nonemergency and are aduvised to use caution on the snow-covered roads.

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