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Structure fire on Manhatten Avenue in the city

By Billie Owens

There is a structure fire at 22 Manhattan Ave. and city firefighters are on scene. Town of Batavia fire is asked to stand by in its hall.

UPDATE 9:05 a.m.: This was a kitchen fire that was called in about 25 minutes ago. Firefighters were able to contain it to the kitchen and now the fire is out.

UPDATE 9:07 a.m.: A pet cat was found in the house, brought safely out and taken to a neighbor for safekeeping. A code enforcement officer is on scene. There remains a faint smell of smoke inside but the blaze did not produce much smoke.

UPDATE 9:26 a.m.: Engine 12 is back in service. Town of Batavia is released from its standby.

Smoke spewing from mobile home in West Main Street trailer park, Batavia

By Billie Owens

Smoke is reportedly coming from a mobile home in the West End Trailer Park at 4016 W. Main Street Road. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m.: A chief on scene says someone is burning leaves, although it could appear to the caller that the smoke was coming from the mobile home itself.

Quick volunteer response saves house after garage consumed by flames

By Howard B. Owens

A quick response by the East Pembroke Fire Department helped save a house on Indian Falls Road this afternoon when a fire destroyed a detached garage and heat from the fire was causing the siding of the house to melt.

Chief Don Newton said all of the department's trucks rolled within minutes of the alarm.

When Newton arrived on scene driving one of those engines, the garage was already gone. 

One firefighter described it as "rolling flames."

Newton said crews deployed hand lines and acted quickly to protect the house and knock down the fire.

"It is a great save to the house," Newton said. "These guys are awesome. This is what we train for. These guys do a hell of a job for me. I can't thank them enough for being here during the day. Middle of the day, it's tough to get people out and all the units that responded here from all the different departments, I can't thank enough for them being out here."

The house, at 2023 Indian Falls Road, suffered significant heat damage, but no apparent structural damage.

County records list the property owner as Timothy Franclemont.

"It was a good save on the garage as far as I'm concerned," Newton said. "There were a lot of chemicals in the garage, oils, gases, that were burning fiercely, running out of the doors with water on fire."

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

No injuries were reported.

Assisting East Pembroke were Indian Falls, Oakfield, Pembroke, Darien, Elba and Alabama.

(Initial Post)

Garage fire on Indian Falls Road

By Billie Owens

A fully involved garage fire with exposures to other property is reported at 2023 Indian Falls Road. Indian Falls and East Pembroke fire departments are responding. The call has gone to a second alarm. Oakfield, Pembroke, Darien, Elba and Alabama are also called in and Town of Batavia is asked to stand by in East Pembroke Fire Hall.

UPDATE 1 p.m.: Corfu Fire Police are to shut down Indian Falls Road at Route 77.

UPDATE 1:19 p.m.: Howard at the scene reports flames are no longer showing. The garage is a total loss and the nearby house "has significant heat damage (outside)."

Photo: Wood Street resident rescued from structure fire

By Howard B. Owens

A fire this morning at 8 Wood S., Batavia, caused $35,000 in damage to the structure and building contents, according to the Batavia Fire Department.

The fire was caused by an electrical issue and started in the kitchen.

A second-floor resident climbed onto the roof of an alcove on the first floor and was rescued by a city firefighter.

A dog that barked to alert residents to the fire perished as a result of smoke in the residence.

The incident commander was Mark Mikolajczyk.

(initial post)

Photo by Frank Capuano.

Structure fire on Wood Street in the city

By Billie Owens

Smoke is reportedly coming from the house at 8 Wood St., located between Jackson Street and Pringle Avenue. Smoke is coming from the attic, too. City police are on scene and city fire is responding.

UPDATE 7 a.m.: The incident has gone to a second alarm.

UPDATE 7:05 a.m. Alexander's Fast Team and Elba fire is called to the scene. Mercy medics are requested for an evaluation. Town of Batavia fire is called to fill in at the city fire hall on Evans Street. Also, D "ESU 2" is called to the scene along with all off-duty platoons.

UPDATE 7:14 a.m.: Command reports fire knocked down. Overhaul started. The blaze is believed to have started in the kitchen.

UPDATE 7:27 a.m.: Alexander is returning to quarters.

UPDATE 7:50 a.m. (by Howard, info and photo from Alecia Kaus/Video News Service): A resident who lived on the second floor was rescued from the roof. A dog died. The fire started in the kitchen. Two people downstairs were evacuated. The second-floor resident is being evaluated in an ambulance on scene.

UPDATE (info from Alecia Kaus/Video News Service): the dog that perished had alerted residents to the fire. 

Fire reported inside classroom at O-A School

By Billie Owens

An unknown type fire is reported in a classroom at Oakfield-Alabama School, 7100 Lewiston Road. Command on scene tells firefighters to respond non-emergency.

Fire inside Walmart's food section

By Billie Owens

A fire is reported at the Walmart Super Center on Veterans Memorial Drive. The building has been evacuated. Flames are visible on the wall in the meat department of the food store. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 7:52 a.m.: A fire is confirmed inside the meat cooler. Mutual aid from Oakfield fire is requested along with all available manpower from Town of Batavia.

UPDATE 8:06 a.m.: Oakfield is told to continue non-emergency with a fill-in unit for Town of Batavia's fire hall.

UPDATE 8:53 a.m.: Fire is out. A Health Department rep inspected the meat cooler and cleared the scene.

Leaf fire off Jerico Road, Bethany, is moving toward trees

By Billie Owens

A leaf fire that is moving toward a wooded area is reported at 5482 Jerico Road. Bethany Fire Department is responding. Light smoke is showing in the vicinity.

UPDATE 2:25 p.m.: Fire is under control and firefighters are working to douse hot spots.

UPDATE 3:01 p.m.: Fire is out. Bethany is back in service.

Local firefighters called to scene of commercial fire in Caledonia

By Howard B. Owens

Four Genesee County fire companies are requested to the scene of a structure fire in Caledonia.

Le Roy responded first, and now tankers from Stafford, Pavilion and Bergen are requested to the scene.

The fire is at a commercial structure next to a residence at 2773 Caledonia-Le Roy Road.

UPDATE 11:54 p.m.: Mutual aid out of Wyoming County requested to the scene. Tankers from Perry, Perry Center, Wyoming are requested. Shortly after the tone out in Wyoming County, a chief at the Caledonia scene suggests that Perry come right to the scene, and another chief responded, "because their tanker is loading up with massive amounts of water right now."

UPDATE 12:01 a.m.: A chief instructs a crew, "no water should go on the back of the building where you're at now. It's full of fertilizer." 

UPDATE 12:09 a.m.: Photo submitted by Jeremiah Russell.

UPDATE 12:28 a.m.: Below a photo taken by Sean Valdes from the Genesee Country Village and Museum grounds. Valdes said he can feel the heat from the fire that far away and he believes he heard explosions earlier.

UPDATE 12:38 a.m.: From 13 WHAM:

Calls into 9-1-1 started coming in around 11:30 p.m. for the fire at Commodity Resource Corporation on Caledonia Leroy Road. CRC provides products and tools to agribusinesses across the country.

UPDATE 12:49 a.m.: Rochester's 13 WHAM has reporters on scene.They were kind enough to send over the two photos below. Be sure to tune into 13 WHAM for complete coverage of the fire.

UPDATE 12:52 a.m.: Here's another photo from 13 WHAM:

UPDATE 7:32 a.m.: Crews are still dealing with this fire. Le Roy Fire is still on scene, as is Stafford, Pavilion and Bergen. Alexander fire responded overnight, and Le Roy's ladder truck crew was given a break, relieved by Town of Batavia's ladder truck.

UPDATE 8:10 a.m.: Le Roy Fire is going back in service. The Genesee County emergency coordinator who has been on scene all night is returning, relieved by another coordinator. 

UPDATE 8:38 a.m.: South Byron fire requested to the scene, non-emergency.

Field fire off Lewiston Road, Alabama responding

By Billie Owens

A field fire is reported in the area of 1147 Lewiston Road. Alabama fire is responding.

UPDATE 1:50 p.m.: Alabama commands reports the fire is under control.

UPDATE 1:54 p.m.: Fire is out. Alabama is returning and in service.

Fire reported at Genesee Valley Farms

By Billie Owens

An "incendiary facility" on the grounds of Genesee Valley Farms is on fire, according to a caller to emergency dispatch. The address is 3520 S. Main Street Road, East Pembroke. Everyone is out of the structure. East Pembroke fire is responding along with mutual aid from Town of Batavia, Oakfield, Darien, and Alexander. Pembroke and Indian Falls are to stand by. The location is between Wortendyke Road and Lovers Lane Road.

UPDATE 4:48 p.m.: Howard at the scene reports there is a moderate amount of smoke showing but no flames. The incendiary facility is inside a small out building. Smoke appears to be coming from the eaves.

UPDATE 5:57 p.m.: Fire is knocked down. Some crews are picking up and preparing to leave.

Controlled burn now out of control on Prole Road, Stafford

By Billie Owens

A controlled burn is reportedly now out of control at 8547 Prole Road. Stafford Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 2:14 p.m.: A tanker from South Byron is called to the scene. The location is south of Horseshoe Lake Road.

UPDATE 2:56 p.m.: Fire knocked down. Crews are picking up.

Burning tires said to be stinking up the air on Indian Falls Road

By Billie Owens

Heavy black, stinky smoke is reported at 1641 Indian Falls Road. It is said to be caused by burning tires. Indian Falls Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE Thursday: The resident called and said this was a false report by another resident in the area. There were no tires burning.  It was just brush.

Photos: Bethany barn fire aftermath

By Howard B. Owens

This is what's left of the barn on Transit Road, Bethany, this morning, after yesterday's fire.

Doug Yeomans took these pictures.

As you can see, there's a bit of smoke and licks of flame. I checked with a dispatcher about any reports of a rekindle and was told none have been received. The dispatcher was sending a chief out to the scene to check on the site.

Barn fire reported in Bethany

By Howard B. Owens

A barn is reportedly on fire with Flames showing at 13096 Transit Road, Bethany. 

Bethany Fire along with several othe companies. 

UPDATE 3:45:  one of the county's beautiful old barns. Gone. You'll be sad when you see the pictures. 

UPDATE 5:15 p.m. Top photo submtted by Joan Fernays. By the time I got there, the barn was nearly gone and the fire had largely burned itself out. The owner said he was gone for about 15 minutes and when he came back, the fire was already burning. He said the barn hadn't been used for five years because of structural issues.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Below, a picture of the barn I took in May 2013. There's also pictures here and here.  It will be a couple of hours at least before I get my pictures from the fire posted.

UPDATE: Photos and slideshow of today's fire followed by drone-camera photos submitted by a reader.

To purchase prints, click here.

Combine fire at farm on Route 98, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

There is a combine on fire at Offhaus Farms on a Route 98, Batavia. 

Multiple fire companies on scene. 

More info TK. 

UPDATE: 8:25 p.m.  The Town of Batavia Fire Department along with Elba and Oakfield Fire departments responded to Offhaus Farms on Rt. 98 for a combine fire that sent thick black smoke into the air around the area of the thruway about 6:00p.m. this evening. 

The heavy black smoke was caused by fuel tanks and tires that caught fire.

Work crews were using the combine in a field of corn on the south side of the farm when it caught fire.

(pictures provided by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service)

 

UPDATE: Video of the smoke submitted by Chad Zambito.

 

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