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Stove fire reported on Summit Street

By Howard B. Owens

A stove is reportedly on fire inside the residence at 146 Summit St., Batavia.

City Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 8:47 p.m.: Engine 12 on scene reporting smoke coming from front door. First platoon requested to the scene. Second platoon requested to stand by at fire headquarters.

UPDATE 8:52 p.m.: There is fire reported in the ceiling. A firefighter requests the back windows of the structure be broken out.

UPDATE 8:55 p.m.: A Mercy rig requested to the scene for standby.

UPDATE 9:10 p.m.: National Grid requested to the scene.

UPDATE 9:16 p.m.: Fire under control.

UPDATE 11:08 p.m.: City fire picking up on Summit.

PHOTOS: Submitted by Frank Capuano.

UPDATE: Press release from City fire:

The City of Batavia Fire Department was dispatched at 8:45 pm, Sunday, Sept. 30, to a reported stove fire at 146 Summit St. Engine 11 and Ladder 15 arrived on location at 8:47 p.m. with smoke showing from the front doorway and eaves. All occupants were out of the structure on arrival.

Interior crews found a fire in the kitchen and dining room on the first floor with extension into the ceiling, second floor and attic. The fire was quickly extinguished and salvage and overhaul completed. Damage to the structure and contents is estimate at around $40,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Captain Craig Williams was the incident commander. Assisting at the scene were City of Batavia Fire second-alarm personnel, Genesee County Emergency Management Office, Mercy EMS and National Grid.

The displaced occupants are staying with family members.


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Small shed fire on Telephone Road, near Texaco Town

By Billie Owens

A shed fire is reported at 6335 Telephone Road. It is near a structure. Pavilion and Le Roy fire departments are responding. The location is between Ellicott Street Road and Transit Road. A power line is running nearby and National Grid is notified. The roadway will be closed.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m.: "There's a lot of heavy black smoke," says a responder. A second alarm crew is called to stand by in quarters but the fire has almost burned itself out.

UPDATE 2:07 p.m.: A utility pole and power line are "involved."

UPDATE 2:09 p.m.: The city's Fast Team was called but is put back in service. Transit Road will be closed at Telephone Road.

UPDATE 2:11 p.m.: The second-alarm crew is told to stand down.

UPDATE 2:14 p.m.: "We're gonna have it knocked down in a minute," says the commander. They are going to apply foam soon.

UPDATE 2:19 p.m.: "The fire is under control."

UPDATE 3:10 p.m.: The eastbound lane is reopened.

UPDATE 3:17 p.m. The road's open, assignment back in service.

Structure fire on North Byron Road, Elba

By Billie Owens

A structure fire is reported at 4635 N. Byron Road. The location is between Oak Orchard and Miller roads. Elba Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 1:12 p.m.: Law enforcement on location reports heavy smoke in the basement. The building is evacuated. "Sounds like wires are sizzling. I can't get in far enough to see." A second alarm is called.

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: Equipment and manpower are called in from the Town of Batavia, Stafford, South Byron, Byron and Oakfield fire departments.

UPDATE 1:16 p.m.: All available manpower out of Elba is called in. National Grid called to respond. Fire police will shut down North Byron Road at Oak Orchard and at Miller. Mutual aid from Barre is requested for stand by.

UPDATE 1:22: The gas has been shut off. National grid is on scene. Mercy EMS is called to care for a person who is suffering from smoke inhalation.

UPDATE 1:25 p.m.: The interior crew reports the fire is under control. It is a dryer fire.

UPDATE 1:26 p.m.: The units on the road are told to continue, non-emergency, and those which have not yet responded are asked to stand down by fire command. Electricity is also shut off. A thermal imaging camera will be used on the structure.

UPDATE 1:35 p.m.: The Elba fire commander says he expects he will be releasing responders soon. They have enough water at the scene. The firefighters will begin to remove burnt debris now.

UPDATE 1:48 p.m.: A code enforcement officer is called to the scene. The homeowner is there now.

UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: Code enforcement has arrived.

Fire alarms blares from Willow Hall, College Village

By Billie Owens

A fire alarm has sounded at Willow Hall in College Village, located at 8170 Batavia-Stafford Townline Road. Town of Batavia Volunteer Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 4:38 p.m.: Firefighters on scene report "nothing showing."

UPDATE 4:40 p.m.: The alarm was caused by burnt food in room I-101. The town assignment is back in service.

Burnt food in Beech Hall at College Village prompts volunteers to respond

By Billie Owens

An alarm of fire was reported from Beech Hall at College Village, located at 8170 Batavia Stafford Townline Road. Town of Batavia Volunteer Fire Department is responding. A call-back from the facility indicates the alarm was prompted by burnt food in room B302.

UPDATE 8:55 p.m.: Firefighters are told to bring a box fan to the third floor and a gas fan to the door on the north side of the building.

UPDATE 9:07 p.m.: Having ventilated the stench of burnt food from the entire floor of the dormitory, the volunteer firefighters are back in service, as are the fans.

Pole fire on Kenyon Avenue, Alabama

By Billie Owens

A pole fire and possible transformer fire are reported at 7323 Kenyon Ave. Alabama Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 8:05 p.m.: The scene has been turned over to National Grid. Alabama is back in service.

Brush fire off Warsaw Road, Le Roy

By Billie Owens

A brush fire is reported in the woods by 9450 Warsaw Road. Le Roy Fire Department is responding. The location is between Perry and Cole roads.

UPDATE 3:18 p.m.: A responder on scene says it's a hedgerow on fire in the middle of a field.

UPDATE 3:27 p.m.: A fire truck from Pavilion is asked to respond to the scene in non-emergency mode.

UPDATE 3:56 p.m.: The fire is out. Crews are doing overhaul. A rep from the Department of Environmental Conservation is on scene.

Fire alarm in Spruce Hall at College Village

By Billie Owens

A fire alarm has sounded in Spruce Hall at College Village. Town of Batavia firefighters are responding. The address is 8170 Batavia-Stafford Townline Road.

UPDATE 9:02 p.m.: Firefighters on scene report "nothing showing."

UPDATE 9:06 p.m.: The chief says a second unit should search the center of the building for burnt food. "Looks like they were fryin' food a little too hot," says a firefighter. They've checked Room 206 and found nothing, but then checked G105 and found evidence of smoke. "It seems to be coming from the heater, but the heater hasn't been turned on for several hours."

UPDATE 9:27 p.m.: The alarm is deemed unfounded. Town of Batavia is back in service.

Small brush fire at Bovee Road bridge and Route 490

By Billie Owens

A small brush fire is reported near the median of the Bovee Road Bridge and Route 490. Bergen and Le Roy fire departments are responding.

UPDATE 2:28 p.m.: Fire is out. Assignment is back in service.

Smoke from burnt food sounds alarm in Spruce Hall, College Village

By Billie Owens

Burnt food in Room 102 in Spruce Hall at College Village resulted in a fire alarm to which the Town of Batavia Volunteer Fire Department's Engine 24 responded. Upon investigation, burnt food was confirmed to be the cause for alarm and Engine 24 is back in service.

Report of burnt rice at College Village

By Howard B. Owens

Dispatcher: "Copy, 253 on scene, investigating burnt rice."

The chief (253 is from Town of Batavia Fire) is "on scene" at Cedar Hall at College Village.

Yes, school is back in session.

Engine 21 is on location.

UPDATE 3:01 p.m.: Town of Batavia is back in service. Confirming burnt food.

City firefighters respond to reported oven fire on Jackson Street

By Howard B. Owens

Batavia Fire Department has responded to 104 Jackson St., lower, for a possible oven fire.

The apartment is full of smoke.

The resident states he just moved in and it's the first time he used the stove.

UPDATE 7:33 p.m.: Burnt food. City fire ventilating the apartment.

UPDATE 7:45 p.m.: The food is out of the stove, the stove is out of the house and City fire is back in service.

Fire on outside of house in Oakfield

By Billie Owens

A fire is reported on the outside of a house in Oakfield at 56 S. Main St. Oakfield Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 2:54 p.m.: The fire is out. Oakfield will still be responding to investigate and to check the structure with a thermal imaging camera.

Grass fire off Gulf Road, Le Roy

By Billie Owens

A grass fire is reported reported by the quarry on Gulf Road, near Circular Hill Road, in Le Roy. Le Roy Fire Department is responding.

Big pine tree on fire on Oak Orchard Road, Elba

By Billie Owens

A large pine tree is on fire, and it's near a gas grill, just one house south of 6417 Oak Orchard Road, Elba. Elba Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 1:41 p.m.: "The fire's out. We're gonna hit a couple hot spots," says a firefighter.

UPDATE 1:57 p.m.: Elba is back in service.

Train wheels smoking at Walnut Street railroad crossing

By Billie Owens

A train's traction wheels, or possibly brakes, are smoking at the Walnut Street railroad crossing and city firefighters are responding to the call, which came from CSX.

UPDATE 12:33 p.m.: The incident is on the main line, just east of Donahue Road, and it's determined to be outside city limits. The Town of Batavia Fire Department is handling the call and the city's crews are standing down.

UPDATE 12:46 p.m.: Dispatchers were told by CSX authorities in Albany that train traffic was stopped to accommodate emergency responders. Then firefighters see a train chugging down the tracks in the opposite direction. So are the trains stopped or aren't they? Dispatch can only relay what they were told. "You can only do so much," one says.

UPDATE 1:02 p.m.: First responders on scene report fire is dying down, assignment held to units already responding.

UPDATE 1:12 p.m.: The smoking wheels are no longer smoking.

UPDATE 1:23 p.m.: Batavia fire is back in service.

Last night's barn fire reportedly rekindles

By Howard B. Owens

Pavilion Fire Department is requested to the scene of 11304 Starr Road, the location of last night's barn fire, for an apparent rekindle of the fire.

UPDATE 8:10 a.m.: A chief on scene reports a couple of hot spots have flared and only one engine is required to deal with the situation.

UPDATE 8:45 a.m.: Pavilion fire is clear the scene and back in service.

Passerby spots barn fire in time to save 37 head of cattle

By Howard B. Owens

A passerby who spotted the early stages of a barn fire on Starr Road in Pavilion on Tuesday night might have helped save 37 head of cattle.

Two sons of the farm owner were able to get the cattle out of the barn before it was engulfed in an inferno that consumed the entire structure.

Pavilion Fire Chief Paul Dougherty said the main structure of the barn was fully ablaze by the time the first firefighters arrived on scene just minutes after the initial call at 8:18 p.m.

The heat was so intense it was already starting to melt the vinyl siding on a house at least 100 yards away from the barn.

The command post for the fire, situated on a mowed grass area across the road from the fire, had to be moved back twice because of intense heat.

"With that much fire load going, the wood and combustibles all burning at once -- plus the the fact was a metal-sided building, which contains the heat until it burns through, and then once it does burn through it all comes out at once – it throws a lot of radiant," Dougherty said.

The barn was on the Kelkenberg Farm and Dougherty said the owners were "very lucky" the fire was discovered when it was. That portion of Starr Road, Dougherty noted, is lightly traveled in the late evening.

There is no public water in that part of Pavilion (as is the case with most of the Pavilion Fire District) and because of the low precipitation totals over the past year, the two closest water sources didn't have sufficient water to help fill tankers to fight the fire.

Firefighters had to fall back on slightly more distant secondary water supplies, but Dougherty said that since the fire spread so quickly after its intial discovery, even a good water supply wouldn't have helped save the structure.

Fire companies from three counties responded to the fire.

There was no saving the barn, Doughety said.

"At that point our big concern was keeping primary power lines cool so they didn’t drop in the road because that would have been dangerous for everybody on both sides, and then protecting the house," Dougherty said.

At 12:20 a.m., firefighters are still on scene. No cause of the fire has been released. The Sheriff's Office will likely release an initial report on the fire by the morning and we'll update this story with any additional information or details when they become available.

UPDATE 10:09 a.m., Wednesday: The cause of the fire has not been determined and remains under investigation, the Sheriff's Office said today. Investigators do not believe there was any foul play. The structure is described as four connected wood-framed barns and buildings. The main barn was fully engulfed in flames when the first units arrived on scene. Mutual aid companies included Le Roy, Stafford, Bethany, Alexander, Warsaw, York, Leister, among others. The initial 9-1-1 call was made by Craig Green. According to a source, Dave Tillotson was also a first witness and helped with rescuing the cows.

(Initial Report)

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