fire

A brush fire is reported just east of 6385 N. Byron Road. Bryon and South Byron fire departments are dispatched. The location is between Route 237 and Bird Road.

UPDATE 1:54 p.m.: All responding units are back in service. We believe this was a controlled burn that the firefighters extinguished. We heard that they had talked with the property owner, which we take to mean they informed the person about opening burn regulations.

Stafford Fire Department is extinguishing an apparent controlled burn at 6505 Prentice Road, Le Roy.

A first responder reported, "It looks like somebody went to lunch," and reported finding a can of oil, matches and a rake.

The call came in as a grass fire. First responders reported finding a hedgerow fire.

A chief informs dispatch that the homeowner has been advised of the open burn law.

UPDATE 1:29 p.m.: A chief tells dispatch, "The homeowner is arguing with us that agriculture is exempt from burning laws." The fire is out except for a couple of smoldering spots. Stafford is back in service.

View Larger Map

A grass fire is reported at 2408 Lewiston Road. Alabama Fire Department is responding. The location is between Lockport and Knowlesville roads.

UPDATE 3:57 p.m.: East Pembroke Fire Department's grass truck is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 4:05 p.m.: Manpower and an engine out of Oakfield are requested. Also, they have called for mutual aid from Wolcottsville, in Niagara County. "It's up into the woods pretty good," says a firefighter at the scene.

UPDATE 4:08 p.m.: Some of the flames are heading toward a barn. "All the fire is up at the west end here." In one section, as soon as a firefighter beats down the flames, they are said to come back twice as big.

UPDATE 4:20 p.m.: They seem to be making progress on fighting the blaze and it is contained in some places. They are going to concentrate on the north edge of the fire now.

UPDATE 4:23 p.m.: Some firefighters say they are "all set" and they are going to start picking up their water lines. But there's still a 7- to 8-foot swath of fire that's moving northward. 

UPDATE 4:27 p.m.: "The fire's been extinguished." They are checking the perimeter one last time.

UPDATE 4:45 p.m.: A fire engine from Elba also responded and is now back in service.

UPDATE 4:52 p.m.: Wolcottsville responders are thanked and released from the assignment. Others at the scene are filling up tanks and otherwise breaking down and preparing to leave.

A vehicle fire is reported in the parking lot of Richmond Memorial Library in the City of Batavia. It is located at 19 Ross St. City firefighters are responding.

UPDATE 12:07 p.m.: The fire is out. City fire is back in service.

A brush fire was reported at 3692 Maltby Road in Oakfield. But now it's contained to a willow tree. Oakfield firefighters are on scene. The location is in between Fisher and Weatherwax roads. Responders are proceeding in non-emergency mode.

UPDATE 5 p.m.: The fire is out. Oakfield is back in service.

A caller reports seeing flames and smoke in the area of 8993 Asbury Road.

A chief already on seen reports a possible large controlled burn at a property on East Main Road.

Le Roy firefighters will respond and put out the fire.

UPDATE 2:54 p.m.: A homeowner on East Main Road was advised of the open burn law and the fire department will put out the fire.

UPDATE 3:56 p.m.: The hydrant used at this incident now won't shut off. Monroe County Water notified. A chief reports it's cause a bit of a traffic problem on Route 5.

View Larger Map

For the second time tonight, a caller is reporting smoke in the area of Jackson Avenue, between South Jackson Street and Oakland Avenue in the city.

Earlier, the cause of the smoke was apparently a small controlled burn of grass and leaves at a location on Creek Road.

City fire's Engine 12 is responding non-emergency.

UPDATE 11:32 p.m.: City command believes it's smoke lingering from the earlier incident. City fire back in service.

A caller reports smelling smoke in the area of Jackson Avenue, Batavia.

The smoke reportedly smells like grass burning.

City Fire Department is responding and the first unit on scene reports smoke in the area. Engine 12 is heading further down South Jackson Avenue, "It appears heavier down that way."

The wind is out of the southwest at two mph.

UPDATE 9:36 p.m.: A unit is going to head down Lehigh Avenue and see if anything is coming from the other side of the creek.

UPDATE 9:45 p.m.: The source appears to be out on Creek Road, Town of Batavia.

UPDATE 9:50 p.m.: A small grass and leaf fire with a circumference of 10 feet has been located. City fire is putting it out with a can. The Town of Batavia chief is being notified that city firefighters are putting out a fire in the town's district. Engine 12 is back in service.

UPDATE 9:55 p.m.: Ladder 15 back in service.

View Larger Map

A grass fire is burning out of control and approaching a structure at 8959 S. Lake Road in Pembroke. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding. The location is between Scribner and Cohocton roads.

UPDATE 3:23 p.m.: The fire is now under control.

UPDATE 3:36 p.m.: The fire is out. All fire units are back in service.

A large field fire is reported in the area of 1283 Lewiston Road, just west of Alleghany Road. Alabama Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 4:03 p.m.: The fire is under control.

UPDATE 4:10 p.m.: The fire is out. All units returning to service.

A grass fire is reported in Alexander at 11250 Maplewood Road. Alexander Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 2:36 p.m.: The fire is out. All units returning to service.

A caller on Church Street, Le Roy, reported seeing a possible fire behind her residence, telling dispatchers she could see a large red glow.

Le Roy Fire responded and chiefs report finding a bonfire with people in the area.

The department's brush fire truck is responding to deal with it.

UPDATE 10:14 p.m.: One chief informs another that the people with the fire recently relocated to the area and were unaware of the open burn regulations.

UPDATE 10:20 p.m.: Fire is out. Le Roy back in service.

A grass fire is reported just south of 4826 Ellicott St. Road. It is blowing across the roadway. Town of Batavia Fire Department is dispatched.

UPDATE 3:40 p.m.: Nothing was found. One engine is continuing to check the area. The other responding unit is returning to quarters.

UPDATE 3:47 p.m.: This may have been a lot of dust blowing around, which can give the appearance of smoke, according to a firefighter. They checked the area from the viaducts all the way to Batavia Town Line and Bethany Center roads and found no indications of fire. Town of Batavia is back in service.

A car fire is reported on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 400. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding.

UPDATE 7:07 p.m.: A responder on scene reports "nothing showing."

UPDATE 7:09 p.m.: It appears to be a blown engine, not a fire. All units back in service.

A fully involved car fire is reported in the eastbound lane of the Thruway at mile marker 391.2.

It's unknown if there are any injuries, so Mercy EMS dispatched as a precaution.

Town of Batavia Fire Department dispatched.

UPDATE 7:52 a.m.: The location is just behind the Home Depot off Veterans Memorial Drive. Image Source, New York State Thruway.

UPDATE 8:37 a.m.: Town of Batavia back in service.

A "fire explosion" is reported a quarter of a mile west of 2965 Pike Road in Alexander, which is the caller's address. Alexander and East Pembroke fire departments are responding.

UPDATE 8:13 p.m.: A firefighter is on scene and reports he's not sure what's burning there. The location is west of Upton Road.

UPDATE 8:17 p.m.: The firefighter on scene says it's a controlled burn that the fire department will have to extinguish. East Pembroke is put back in service.

UPDATE 9:11 p.m.: The location was determined to be 2929 Pike Road and the incident stemmed from a small rubbish fire. The homeowner has been apprised of new open burning laws and the Alexander Fire Department is back in service.

Firefighters did their best Thursday to try and save dozens of pigs caught in a barn that burst into flames at about 1:30 p.m., but some piglets were killed, according to officials.

A quick response by Darien and Corfu firefighters along with a State Trooper helped keep the fire from spreading north in the barn and destroying more animals.

Willow Ridge Pig Farm, owned by Charlie Miller, housed at least 1,000 pigs, but the number killed is not yet available.

The fire apparently started in the nursery, but the cause has not yet been determined.

Some pigs from the burned structure were moved to other barns on the property, and some pigs were relocated to climate-controlled facilities at other barns.

After the fire was largely knocked down, more than two dozen piglets were carried out of the nursery by firefighters. They were covered with soot and Indian Falls Chief Ed Mileham feared some were overheated, so he sprayed them with water.

Miller's staff then put the piglets in another barn.

One firefighter familiar with hog farming and Miller's facility said normally people not wearing protective garb would not have access to the young pigs. The animals who survived the fire may yet be susceptible to disease.

Besides Darien, Corfu and Indian Falls, responding to the scene were Pembroke, East Pembroke, the Town of Batavia, Attica, Alexander, Bennington, Oakfield, Akron, Alden, and Crittenden, and the city's Fast Team.

Darien Fire went back in service at 5:26 p.m.

(Initial report, with more pictures)

Heavy smoke is spewing from the chimney of a church in Pembroke that has been converted into a house, according to a Pembroke firefighter on scene. The location is 690 Main Road on the corner of Lake Road. It looks like it's confined to the chimney. Corfu and Darien are also responding.

UPDATE 5:29 p.m.: The address is determined to be 8576 North Lake Road. Indian Falls is responding, too. All incoming units are to stage at Pembroke Engine 85, which is in a driveway across the street.

UPDATE 5:32 p.m.: They are trying to contact the homeowner regarding entry to the house but "have not heard back."

UPDATE 5:34 p.m.: An unlocked door has been located on the north side of the structure. Interior firefighters are going to enter "to see what we can see." A firefighter warns that dogs can be heard barking inside. Akron is on scene. They are putting up ladder(s) on the roof.

UPDATE 5:37 p.m.: Two dogs are seen locked in the basement along with a cat. There's no smoke. The furnace is on. The cat is running around. They'll need to gain front entry to get to the basement. They have not been able to contact the occupants. Animal control is not available, according to dispatch. A code enforcement officer is called. There are multiple renovations under way. They are putting up a light tower and taking statements from people at the scene.

UPDATE 5:43 p.m.: They are going to contact the owner of the building, who lives in Indian Falls. The interior crew has reached the stove in the center of the building and they have knocked the fire down, now checking for extentions. Firefighters have to be careful inside as there are places where flooring is missing and there are open beams.

UPDATE 5:45 p.m.: They are shutting off the gas to the stove, which was "jerry-rigged," according to a firefighter. National Fuel has been contacted.

UPDATE 5:52 p.m.: One of the occupants has been located at the Union Hotel and firefighters are speaking with him. They are getting into the basement. They are all set with manpower and will begin releasing some of the responders.

UPDATE 5:55 p.m.: The Town of Pembroke's building inspector is going to be contacted. "It's definately needed," says the firefighter making the request. The female occupant is heading to the scene.

UPDATE 6:03 p.m.: "You can disregard contacting the building inspector. We're on the phone with zoning now." Once the occupant arrives, she can "take care of the dogs so we can get in there."

UPDATE 6:10 p.m.: A zoning officer is on scene.

UPDATE 6:14 p.m.: Corfu units are leaving the scene, in service. A National Fuel rep is on site.

UPDATE 6:30 p.m.: Darien is back in quarters. The zoning officer has been provided the appropriate paperwork from the fire chief and there will be no further use of the chimney allowed at the residence until proper repairs are made and there is a re-inspection.

A barn fire is reported at the Miller farm in the Town of Darien. It's located at 9697 Ridge Road. Darien Fire Department is responding along with mutual aid from Alexander and Corfu.

Caller is the owner who says flames are shooting out of one end of the barn and there's a possibility other structures nearby could be compromised.

UPDATE 1:37 p.m.: The fire has gone to a second alarm and mutual aid is called in from Pembroke, East Pembroke, the Town of Batavia and the city's Fast Team. The city's first platoon is called to stand by in quarters. There are three sites of fire inside the barn.

UPDATE 1:40 p.m.: County emergency coordinators are called to the scene. Monroe County Water Authority is notified of the fire, and tanker personnel are communicatinn on the "water channel."

"I have the owner heading up toward you. All the barns are full of pigs."

UPDATE 1:48 p.m.: Indian Falls is also responding along with Attica. "I need all available manpower to the back of the barn."

UPDATE 1:51: All available manpower from the Town of Batavia is called in.

UPDATE 1:53 p.m.: Wyoming County offers Bennington's "Super Tanker" and it is called in.

UPDATE 1:58 p.m.: Akron,  Alden, and Crittenden are assisting or called to assist.

UPDATE 2:01 p.m.: Oakfield is responding.

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: "The fire is contained to the center of the building." This is a hog farm. The pigs are in their pens and the roof over them is on fire. They are frantically working to save the livestock. Stafford is called to stand by in Town of Batavia's Station 2.

UPDATE 2:09 p.m.: Firefighters on scene are saying the first responders did a good job of knocking down the fire's progress northward where most of the hogs are penned.

UPDATE 2:11 p.m.: The power is on in the building. All incoming responders are told to take their time getting to the scene because they'll be waiting in line. The staging area is behind City of Batavia's Engine 12. Some firefighters are working to ventilate the buildings so the pigs can breathe more comfortably.

UPDATE 2:15 p.m.: A gas-fired ventilation fan is requested to the staging area, but the one on hand is electric.

UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: Firefighters are overhauling the burned barn then the plan is to shut water down there, dismantle and bring in a truck to transport the hogs.

UPDATE 3:04 p.m.: The farm is owned by Charlie Miller. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. It appears to have started in the nursery.

UPDATE 4:06 p.m.: All available manpower from Darien is called to the scene. Crews are breaking down their equipment and preparing to clear out.

UPDATE 4:16 p.m.: Darien and Corfu are to remain at the scene. All other tankers and equipment from mutual aid responders are released.

UPDATE 5:26 p.m.: Darien went back in service from this scene at 5:14 p.m., but is now providing mutual aid at a chimney fire in Pembroke.

A grass fire is reported at 9624 Clipnock Road in Bethany. It's between Torrey and Little Canada roads. Bethany Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 1:12 p.m.: A brush truck out of Stafford is requested to provide mutual aid.

UPDATE 1:14 p.m.: The fire has progressed to the woods. All available manpower out of Bethany Fire Department is requested. Plus, a tanker from Stafford is called in. Town of Batavia is called to provide a brush truck and one tanker.

UPDATE 1:18 p.m.: A tanker and Gaitors (fire-resistant leg protection wear) an all-terrain vehicle known as a Gator from Alexander, plus all its available firefighters, are called in.

From reader Destin Danser:

"It's actually a Gator from Alexander, as in the all terrain vehicle made by John Deere. Not gaitors. They have one outfitted with tracks and a water pump on the back that they use for fighting grass fires, plus a medical back for it to use for search and rescue."

UPDATE 1:27 p.m.: A full crew from Darien is standing by in its fire hall.

UPDATE 1:32 p.m.: A deputy was expedited to the scene because of a male-female domestic incident at the location. One of them left in a vehicle on Clipnock Road.

UPDATE 1:37 p.m.: A Pavilion pumper/tanker is requested to approach from Transit Road, as County Highway personnel report the fire is heading in that direction.

UPDATE 1:46 p.m.: A portion of the fire is out or nearly out. But there are hot spots along the swath eastward.

UPDATE 1:49 p.m.: Town of Batavia's response is cancelled and the unit(s) returning. The firefighters report the Transit Road area is under control.

UPDATE 1:52 p.m.: The fire near Transit Road is completely out. Mercy medics are called to the scene ASAP by the Bethany fire command. An adult male in his 50s is reportedly having trouble breathing, is passed out now and has a history of heart problems.

UPDATE 1:55 p.m.: Fire command directs a unit to the staging area to provide oxygen.

UPDATE 2:01 p.m.: All traffic is being shut down at East Bethany Le Roy Road.

UPDATE 2:13 p.m.: The roadway is reopened.

UPDATE 2:24 p.m.: Pavilion units are back in service. Mercy transported a patient to UMMC.

UPDATE 2:35 p.m.: Stafford units back in service. Some of Bethany's personnel clearing the scene.

UPDATE 2:43 p.m.: The fire is out. Darien is standing down from standby duty in its quarters. Alexander is back in service. Bethany is back in service.