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Wendy's shut down after fire call prompts investigation

By Billie Owens

About an hour ago, a small kitchen fire was reported at the Wendy's restaurant on Main Street in the City of Batavia. The automatic alarm system notified emergency dispatch of the incident. City firefighters responded and investigated. They then called for representatives from code enforcement and the health department to come to the scene. Wendy's is closed temporarily so their inspections can be done.

UPDATE 4:50 p.m.: Wendy's reopened for business at 3 p.m.

Smoke reported inside residence in Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

Oakfield Fire Department is responding to a report of smoke in the bathroom at 32 Bennett Ave., Oakfield.

UPDATE 8:27 a.m.: A burned out light fixture is reported.

UPDATE 8:35 a.m.: Oakfield back in service.


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Tractor-trailer with brakes on fire in front of Kiwanis Park, Batavia

By Billie Owens

A tractor-trailer's brakes are reportedly on fire on Route 5, in front of Kiwanis Park. It is hauling another trailer. Smoke is coming from the tractor, according to a responder at the scene. Town of Batavia Fire Department is en route.

UPDATE 4:36 p.m.: The fire is out. Town of Batavia is back in service.

Possible electrical fire in wall of Bethany home

By Billie Owens

A possible electrical fire in a wall is reported at a residence at 4646 Conway Road in Bethany. The owner reports an outlet is hot and he smells smoke. No flames are showing. A Bethany firefighter on scene confirms nothing is showing. Alexander is also responding, non-emergency mode.

UPDATE 3:04 p.m.: They are going to scan the wall with an infrared camera.

UPDATE 3:12 p.m.: Alexander is returning, in service.

UPDATE 3:22 p.m.: The problem has been handled. Bethany is back in service.

Field fire in Elba off Drake Street Road

By Billie Owens

A field fire is reported at 4271 Drake St. Road in Elba. Elba Fire Department is responding. The location is between South Main Street and Weatherwax Road. Fire equipment from the towns of Oakfield, Batavia and Byron are also requested.

UPDATE 4:11 p.m.: Drake Street Road and Weatherwax are being shut down.

UPDATE 4:16 p.m.: Fire police are stationed at routes 262 and 98. A Bergen tanker is requested to fill in at Byron's hall. The wind is 10 mph out of the east.

UPDATE 5:01 p.m.: Batavia and Oakfield are back in service.

UPDATE 5:06 p.m.: The fire is out. Elba, Byron and Bergen are back in service. The roadway is reopened.

Large metal bin on fire at scrap yard

By Billie Owens

A roll-off metal scrap bin is on fire at Eddy Arnold Scrap Processors, Inc., located at 2216 Angling Road in Corfu. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding. The bin is next to the office.

UPDATE 5:53 p.m.: The fire is out. They are checking for hot spots.

UPDATE 6:05 p.m.: East Pembroke is back in service.

Batavia city and town firefighters responding to controlled burn on Bank Street

By Billie Owens

A controlled burn at 311 Bank St. is requiring the response of city firefighters and mutual aid from the Town of Batavia. According to authorities, this address has previously been advised regarding the requirements of controlled burns.

UPDATE 10:30 p.m. (approximately): Fire is out.

Shed fire reported on Bethany Center Road, East Bethany

By Howard B. Owens

A shed fire is reported at 10330 Bethany Center Road, East Bethany.

Bethany Fire Department with mutual aid from Town of Batavia responding.

UPDATE 10:41 a.m.: Homeowner appears to have put out the fire with a garden hose.

UPDATE 10:45 a.m.: Town of Batavia back in service.

UPDATE 11:05 a.m.: A Bethany tanker has gone back in service.

UPDATE 11:16 a.m.: Bethany is back in service.


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Small fire on roof at VA Medical Center, Batavia

By Billie Owens

A small fire is reported on the northwest corner of the roof on Building #4 at the VA Medical Center, located at 222 Richmond Ave. in Batavia. City firefighters are on scene and they report "there's a little smoke up there."

UPDATE 2:30 p.m.: The third platoon is called to stand by in the city fire hall.

UPDATE 2:34 p.m.: The small fire is described as "smoldering" and stems from roofing work. They are checking for extensions now.

UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: The fire is knocked down and they continue to check for extensions, reporting there is still some smoke coming from what is described as a balcony area.

UPDATE 2:50 p.m.: They plan to use a chainsaw to open up a portion of the roof to ensure there is no extension inside.

UPDATE 3:10 p.m.: The blaze is believed to have started when a worker used a heat gun while doing some lead paint abatement.

UPDATE 3:19 p.m.: The fire is completely out.

Mulch fire by credit union on Veterans Memorial Drive

By Billie Owens

A mulch fire is reported at the ESL Federal Credit Union on Veterans Memorial Drive. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 4:49 p.m.: A fireman on scene reports it is a small mulch fire and calls for a brush truck to respond in non-emergency mode.

UPDATE 5 p.m.: The fire is out. Town of Batavia is back in service..

Cornfield on fire off Lewiston Road in Alabama

By Billie Owens

A cornfield is reportedly on fire at 1534 Lewiston Road, near Church Street, in Alabama. Alabama Fire Department is en route.

UPDATE 12:26 p.m.: Fire police and an engine from Oakfield are requested. Smoke is blowing across the roadway.

UPDATE 12:37 p.m.: A tanker from Oakfield is called to the scene. Some firefighters are working at the back of the property to protect a barn. There's a brush fire nearby. Although the fire is not approaching the structure, there are strong winds blowing.

UPDATE 12:47 p.m.: Alabama command reports the fire is under control.

UPDATE 12:59 p.m.: The fire is out. The Alabama assignment is back in service.


Dryer fire reported at mobile home on Lake Street Road

By Howard B. Owens

A dryer fire is reported at a mobile home on Lake Street, Le Roy.

A Le Roy PD officer reports smoke in the residence.

The occupants are out of the home.

Le Roy Fire Department is responding with mutual aid from Bergen.

UPDATE 12:26 a.m.: Pavilion firefighters are asked to stand by at Le Roy's hall.  The fire is knocked down. Fans requested.

UPDATE 12:35 a.m.: Fire contained to the dryer. No extension. The fire is out.

UPDATE 12:48 a.m.: Bergen back in service.

UPDATE 1:06 a.m.: Pavilion back in service.

Transformer fire reported in Pembroke

By Howard B. Owens

A transformer fire is reported at 1145 Main Road, Pembroke.

The location is right in front of the Pembroke Highway Department.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments dispatched.

The fire appears to have burned itself out.

UPDATE 8:49 a.m.: A fire responder says the fire is out. The pole is a little charred.

UPDATE 9:36 a.m.: Power is out for fewer than five customers. National Grid expects repairs to be completed by 12:15 p.m.

UPDATE 11:08 a.m.: The traffic lights at Route 77 and Route 5 will be out for an hour during transformer repairs. A deputy is being dispatched to direct traffic.


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Brush fire off Route 63, south of Village of Oakfield

By Billie Owens

A brush fire is reported off Route 63, just south of the Village of Oakfield. Oakfield Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 3:17 p.m.: The fire is knocked down.

UPDATE 3:19 p.m.: Oakfield is back in service.

Shed fire on Ivison Road, Byron

By Billie Owens

A shed fire is reported at 7410 Ivison Road in Byron. It is connected (or close) to a barn. Byron, South Byron and Bergen fire departments are responding.

UPDATE 7:01 p.m.: Elba is called to stand in at the Byron Fire Hall.

UPDATE 7:04 p.m.: Firefighters on scene report smoke is showing. The location is between Gillett and Freeman roads.

UPDATE 7:08 p.m.: The response from Elba and Bergen is cancelled.

UPDATE 7:14 p.m.: This was actually a tractor on fire, which was parked in the shed. The fire is out and the tractor has been removed from the shed. The inside of the shed has been hosed down.

UPDATE 7:21 p.m.: Byron is back in service. South Byron is remaining until the scene is picked up/cleaned up.

Brush fire on Gilbert Street, Le Roy

By Billie Owens

A brush fire is reported at 82 Gilbert St. in the Village of Le Roy. Le Roy Fire Department is responding. A fireman at the scene says there's a fire in the woods.

UPDATE 6:45 p.m.: A firefighter says "We've got it pretty well knocked down. There's just some embers on some logs."

UPDATE 6:52 p.m.: The fire is out. Le Roy is picking up equipment and will be in service momentarily.

Smoke in the basement of Oakfield residence

By Billie Owens

A possible fire is reported at 24 Maple Ave. in the Village of Oakfield. There are no flames showing, but smoke is coming from the basement. The caller says it may be electrical in nature. Oakfield Fire Department is responding. The power has been turned off. The location is between Gibson and Main streets.

UPDATE 12:18 p.m.: The firefighter says "We've got an electrical fire in the wall." A pumper and tanker from Elba are requested to the scene.

UPDATE 12:29 p.m.: A building inspector is called to the address.

UPDATE 12:32 p.m.: A rep from the Niagara-Mohawk power company is requested.

UPDATE 12:32 p.m.: The fire is out. Oakfield and Elba are back in service.

Shed fire on Munson Street in Le Roy

By Billie Owens

A shed fire is reported behind a residence at 38 Munson St. Le Roy firefighters are responding.

UPDATE 4:33: The shed is small and there's not much in it. They are holding the assignment to Engine 63.

UPDATE 4:35: Le Roy police are also on scene.

UPDATE 4:39 p.m.: Le Roy ambulance also responded, but is now back in service. UPDATE 4:44 p.m.: The fire is out. Le Roy firefighters are back in service.

Burner on stove that was accidently turned on may have been cause of fire on Union Street

By Howard B. Owens

City fire investigators have yet to release the cause of a fire early Friday evening that broke out in a home on Union Street, but the current resident of the home described how the fire may have started accidentally.

Doug Veltz, who has lived at 1 Union St. for many years but was moving out after Terry Platt recently acquired the property, was trying to nap, he said, when he smelled smoke.

At first, he said, he thought the smoke was being blown into his room through a fan in the window, but then he thought that maybe he should play it safe and investigate.

As I was coming down the stairs, I could smell it," Veltz said. "It was coming from my house. I got to the kitchen and there was flame coming from the burner on the stove. There was a glass candle sitting on the burner on the stove. It was just set there. The candle wasn’t lit. Before I went to sleep, I must have bumped a dial, a knob on the stove."

Veltz said his first instinct was to blow on the flame.

"In one big breath, I blew it out," he said.

He then turned to get some water and as soon as he turned his back, he heard the burner flame back up and this time, the flame was two feet high.

There was a winter coat there and I was going to try and smother it," Veltz said. "It went up in flames and at that point, I realized it was beyond my control. I screamed for my dog. He came downstairs. Luckily, I had my phone with me and I dialed 9-1-1."

Fire Chief Jim Maxwell said the department won't have information to release from its investigation until Sunday at the earliest.

Veltz said he had moved only a small portion of his belongings, including collectable items and all the photos of his children, which he had just placed in a tub in the dining room.

The back of the house was badly damaged, but Platt said he believes the structure remains solid and he plans to renovate the interior and eventually sell the house.

Maxwell said a quick response -- even though Engine 12 was at Dwyer Stadium for fireworks night -- helped save the structure.

All platoons from city fire were called to the scene and Town of Batavia's Fast Team also responded. Alexander fire was on standby at the city's fire hall.

Mercy EMS and Batavia PD also responded.

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