fire

A barn fire is reported at 8244 State Street Road, just north of the BOCES complex. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding. "That would be the old Stan's Harley-Davidson."

UPDATE 7:39 p.m.: Oakfield is asked to stand by in Town of Batavia's Station #1.

UPDATE 7:43 p.m.: State Street Road is shut down just north of BOCES to accommodate a 5-inch water line across the road to fight the fire.

UPDATE 7:48 p.m.: Town of Batavia fire and Mercy medics are on scene.

UPDATE 7:58 p.m.: The electrical breakers for the barn have been shut off.

UPDATE 8 p.m.: The barn is being vented.

UPDATE 8:09 p.m.: The fire is under control and firefighters are now doing overhaul.

City Fire Department is on scene in the area of Woodrow Road and Soccio Street, Batavia, where white smoke is seen coming from the second-floor window of a residence.

UPDATE 8:54 a.m.: It's a dryer fire.

UPDATE 8:55 a.m.: Third platoon to stand by at headquarters.

UPDATE 8:56 a.m.: Fire is out.Ventilating.

UPDATE 10 a.m.: City fire back in service.

A possible structure fire is reported at 7475 S. Pearl Street Road in Oakfield. It is believed to stem from an electrical problem in the basement, which is showing some white smoke. Oakfield Fire Department is responding and mutual aid is requested from East Pembroke, Town of Batavia, and Alabama, which is called to fill in at Oakfield's hall. Everyone is out of the building.

UPDATE 6:42 p.m.: The electrical circuits have been shut off and Oakfield is waiting for National Grid to arrive. All mutual aid responders back in service.

Fire photographer Jay Lynch was the first person on the scene last night of the house fire on Hutchinson Street, Pavilion. He provided these pictures of the early stages of the fire.

For more of Jay's fire photography, visit his Web site.

Previously: Quick response by volunteers at Pavilion fire saves a woman's life, her home and her pets

Quick work by volunteer firefighters responding to an initially vague report of a fire in Pavilion helped save a woman's life, save her two dogs and save most of her house, even though flames were shooting 25 feet in the air when firefighters first arrived.

Dispatchers initially received a call of flames or a red glow in the area of Route 19 at 11:36 p.m.

The alarm was sounded for the Pavilion Fire Department and volunteers roused from their beds started heading toward the fire hall, said Chief Paul Dougherty.

"The initial report put the fire at or near one of our member's homes, so he was able to tell us immediately it wasn't there," Dougherty said. "On his way to the station he saw where it was coming from and he was able to direct us to the location."

The fire was at 6918 Hutchinson St., a three-store Victorian built in 1860 and owned by Celia Milroy.

Milroy was home alone, sleeping, at the time the fire started. It started, apparently, her back porch.

Dougherty and another firefighter were first on scene and were advised by a Time Warner employee who was on his way to work that there might still be a person in the house.

The firefighters forced their way into the residence and broke through a glass window on the door and yelled to rouse Milroy.

She was initially skeptical that her house was on fire and wasn't in a particular hurry to leave, Dougherty said.

"It wasn't that she was scared," Dougherty said. "She was just taking her time. 'Let me get my shoes on.' 'Lady we don't have time for that.' We asked her if he had a key to the door because we'd knocked the glass out to yell into her, and we said, 'Lady, come on, do you have the key to this door? Can you open this door for us?" 'Just a minute. Just a minute.'" Dougherty chuckles recalling the conversation. "'We're in a bit of a hurry here, ma'am.' "

When she got out on the side porch and saw the flames, Dougherty said, that's when she was convinced her house was on fire.

Using Pavilion's foam truck and mutual aid from Le Roy, Bethany, York and Wyoming, firefighters were able to act quickly and save the house.

The enclosed back porch was heavily damaged, but most of the worse damage to the back half of the house is from smoke and water, Dougherty said. The front half of the house wasn't damaged at all.

Interior firefighters knocked the fire back pretty quickly, but with older homes and what is known as "balloon construction" the biggest danger is unseen flames climbing up the outside walls and into the attic.

"The quicker we could get in attic and make sure it wasn't traveling up there, the better," Dougherty said.

The roof was vented, which drew the flames up through the hole, giving firefighters an opportunity to effectively fight it before it advanced toward the front of the house.

"It was a good save," Dougherty said.

Also saved were two little dogs. The first was found quickly by firefighters and returned to Milroy safely, but the second one couldn't be located.

About 30 minutes into the fire fight, the small dog came charging out the back door, running over smoldering, hot timber, and was scooped up by a neighbor and given to a Pavilion firefighter, who carried the little guy to Mrs. Milroy, sitting with a neighbor across the street.

At least two firefighters were taken to UMMC for medical treatment, including one with heat exhaustion.

Interior firefighters told us it was pretty darn hot in the house on a hot night and several firefighters looked pretty beat when they first came out of the structure.

Also assisting at the scene were Le Roy Ambulance, City of Batavia's Fast Team, the Pavilion Auxiliary and the Sheriff's Office.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and Dougherty said it was too early to even take a guess at it.

UPDATE 9 a.m.: The cause of the fire has been determined to be "misuse of electrical equipment," according to a Sheriff's Office press release. Also, we didn't have a complete list of responding fire companies earlier. Also responding to the scene, Stafford and Perry. Bergen filled in at Le Roy's hall.

To purchase prints of photos, click here.

A working structure fire is reported on Hutchinson Street in Pavilion. Stafford, Bethany and Le Roy fire departments, along with York, are responding with Pavilion. Bergen is asked to fill in at the Le Roy Fire Hall. They are on the second floor at this point checking for extentions.

UPDATE 12:15 a.m.: The fire is pretty well knocked down. The exact address is 6918 Hutchinson St. Two Rochester & Southern trains scheduled to run by soon are asked to slow it down. National Grid is called to the scene along with Salvation Army, the latter to provide refreshments.

UPDATE 12:19 a.m.: Interior crew reports no sign of fire extension on second floor, "must be in the attic." They are opening up the roof to vent the structure. "We can find no way into the attic from the second floor." Command reminds tankers not to park on the railroad.

UPDATE 12:22 a.m.: The city's Fast Team is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 12:24 a.m.: No response from Salvation Army, calling the Pavilion Auxiliary instead. "We're exiting the building. There's nothing we can do up here," says the fire chief regarding the interior crew.

UPDATE 12:28 a.m.: They cut a hole in the ceiling and reported seeing nothing, but a thermal camera shows fire and heat "in the eaves in the eastside." Subsequenty, fire "self-venting through the roof." Interior crews are exiting the house. "There's nothing we can do up here." Initially, flames were seen shooting out the back of the three-story house.

UPDATE 12:33 a.m.: A Mercy rig was called in by fire command for a firefighter, unknown injuries, now a second rig is called for a second patient, told to go Route 19 to Route 63, past the Pavilion Bank.

UPDATE 12:36 a.m.: All crew members are accounted for and out of the structure. They are trying to cool the attic in order to get a crew back up in there.

UPDATE 12:39 a.m.: The American Red Cross will likely be needed to respond, says the chief. Howard, at the scene, reports a small terrier-type of dog came running out of the house and was scooped up by a firefighter and handed over to its owner.

UPDATE 12:46 a.m.: The train company is contacted and asked to stop the trains scheduled to pass through on Hutchinson Street.

UPDATE 1:03 a.m.: The power company is there now and has shut off power to the house.

UPDATE 3:44 a.m.: Pavilion leaving the scene, all units back in service.

An electrical fire is reported in the basement of 160 Bank St., Batavia.

City fire is responding.

UPDATE 10:46 p.m.: City command reports smoke in the basement. No visible fire.

UPDATE 10:54 p.m.: National Grid requested to the scene to pull the meter.

View Larger Map

A grass fire off the eastbound Thruway is reported in the area by the State Street overpass. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 11:52 a.m.: A fireman at the scene says it's a controlled burn that's being tended to. It's "a bit smoky" but is not an impediment to traffic.

A possible house fire is reported at 3728 W. Main St. Road. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding along with Alexander's Fast Team.

UPDATE 8:28 p.m. Alexander is cancelled, along with East Pembroke fire.

A BBQ grill fire is reported at 118 Bank St. in the backyard. City fire is responding.

UPDATE 5:26 p.m.: Firefighters on scene report nothing showing.

UPDATE 5:27 p.m.: Fire is out. Firefighters are returning to quarters.

UPDATE 5:30 p.m.: It was a grease fire. The assignment is in service.

A structure fire is reported at 109 Oak Street, Batavia. Fire and smoke are reportedly coming from an electrical power outlet. City fire is en route.

UPDATE 3:53 p.m.: City Engine 11 and Ladder 15 are there and the chief reports no smoke or fire. Investigating further.

UPDATE 4:13 p.m.: City assignment is back in service.

A caller reports a shed fire off Ellicott Street Road near Paul Road.

The caller didn't have an exact address.

Stafford Fire Department is dispatched.

UPATE 7:05 p.m.: A chief arriving on scene reports heavy smoke in the area.

UPDATE 7:06 p.m.: A chief requests a second alarm for tankers.

UPDATE 7:10 p.m.: Bethany is responding.

UPDATE 8:07 p.m.: All units back in service.

A possible fire reported behind the residence at 8924 Creek Road. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 4:38 p.m.: Responder on scene reports nothing showing.

UPDATE 4:46 p.m.: "Looks like they were disking (plowing soil) on the east side of Creek Road. I think they may have seen dust." The town assignment is back in service.

A tree on fire is reported in Swallow Hollow, on a trail off Knowlesville Road near the Orleans County line. Alabama Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 5:21 p.m.: Five firefighters are hiking on foot to the blazing tree, which is about a quarter mile off the road.

UPDATE 5:30 p.m.: They are now on scene with a smoldering tree.

UPDATE 5:38 p.m.: The tree fire is out and the firefighters are heading back to their trucks.

City fire is on scene at a fire in or near a building behind Ferrallgas at 655 Ellicott Street. It is possibly a building of Hanson Aggregates at 645 Cedar St.

UPDATE 12:53 p.m.: City police are on scene to control traffic and shut it down at Cedar and Edwards. DPW is called to put up barricades at Cedar and Ellicott and Cedar and Edwards.

UPDATE 12:57 p.m.: A third platoon is called into city fire headquarters for standby. A Hanson building rep is arriving at the scene.

UPDATE 1:02 p.m.: Fire knocked down. Checking for extentions.

UPDATE 1:29 p.m.: Crews are picking up equipment and preparing to return to service.

UPDATE 1:37 p.m. (by Howard): Chief Jim Maxwell said the preliminary indication is that some smoldering insulation went unnoticed after crews finished installing some new water pipes and new water meter in one of the rooms of the structure. The fire was contained to the small room. A torch or soldering iron had been used. The facility is used to mix ready-made concrete.

A car fire with flames shooting from the engine compartment is reported on Wortendyke Road near Route 33. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 11:23 a.m.: A responder on scene says "I think we got it knocked down with a few extinguishers." East Pembroke just arrived at the scene.

A "bonfire-like" fire is reported near the railroad tracks off Lehigh Avenue, Batavia.

It is growing in size.

City fire responding.

UPDATE 7:39 p.m.: Property owners are "cleaning up a hedgerow" according to a fire captain. 

UPDATE 7:44 p.m.: Fire extinguished. City fire back in service.

A brush fire is reported in the area of 10650 Transit Road, Bethany.

Bethany fire responding.

UPDATE 1:02 p.m.: It's a rough road in and the chief wants the truck driver to use caution to avoid damaging the truck. "The fire is pretty much contained," the chief says.

UPDATE 1:08 p.m.: A tanker from Pavilion requested to stage at the road in case needed.

UPDATE 2:01 p.m.: The fire was put out about 20-30 minutes ago and all units are back in service.

View Larger Map

Dispatchers have received a report of a grass fire behind a building in the area of 66 Lake St., Le Roy.

Le Roy Fire and Le Roy Ambulance responding.

UPDATE 12:12 p.m.: A chief on scene reports "a pretty good brush fire going."

UPDATE 12:31 p.m.: Fire is out. Le Roy should be back in service shortly.

UPDATE 12:32 p.m.: Fire is out. They are doing overhaul and expect to go back in service shortly.

A grass fire is reported near the pond at Lei-Ti Campground, 9979 Francis Road.

Bethany Fire is dispatched.

UPDATE 10:40 a.m.: Fire is out.