fire

Press release:

At 8:05 p.m. on July 26, the City of Batavia Fire Department was dispatched to a reported residential basement fire located at 438 Ellicott St. First arriving fire units were on scene at 8:08 p.m.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a working fire with heavy smoke and flames visible. Responding crews made an aggressive interior attack of the basement and were able to confine and contain the fire and the situation was called under control by command at 8:42 p.m.

While the fire was contained to the basement of the structure, there was smoke and heat damage to the first and second floor due to the intensity and balloon frame construction that allowed for additional diffusion.

All occupants were able to self-extricate along with a cat from the residence. One adult and two teenagers are receiving lodging assistance from the Red Cross.

Additionally, a City firefighter was injured while fighting the fire. He was sent to United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) for evaluation, and has been released and is seeking follow-up medical treatment.

At this time the City of Batavia’s Fire Investigation team is investigating the fire to determine the origin and cause. Pending further investigation, the fire has been label undetermined. A final determination will be made upon completion of the investigation.

City fire was assisted at the scene by the City of Batavia Police, Mercy EMS, and the Genesee County Sheriff and Emergency Management Departments with additional support provided by the Town of Batavia Fire Department and Genesee County Emergency Dispatch.

Photos by Frank Capuano.

A working fire is reported at 438 Ellicott St. in the City of Batavia. City fire is responding. Third platoon is called in.

UPDATE 8:17 p.m.: All available manpower at city fire is called to the scene. Town of Batavia Fire Department is asked to stand by in city headquarters on Evans Street. The fire scene is between Ellicott Place and South Swan Street.

UPDATE 8:23 p.m.: Commands calls for a National Grid rep to the scene and a building code inspector.

UPDATE 8:28 p.m.: National Grid has been notified; not ETA provided.

UPDATE 8:42 p.m.: Fire is under control.

UPDATE 8:50 p.m.: National Grid is on scene.

UPDATE 9:14 p.m.: The Salvation Army or American Red Cross, whichever is first available, requested to the scene to assist one adult and two teenagers with lodging. 

UPDATE 9:16 p.m.: Batavia PD has a traffic stop on a vehicle that drove through the fire scene.

UPDATE 9:41 p.m.: Ellicott Street is reopened.

UPDATE 10:34 p.m.:  Engine 11 remaining on scene. Engine 14 returning to quarters.

City firefighters are responding to a fire alarm at Tops Market in Batavia.

A barn fire with a lot of smoke and some flames showing is reported in Darien at 9796 Harper Road. No people are believed to be inside the barn, but there are probably farm animals inside.

No propane tanks can be seen near the building, according to the caller to dispatch. The location is between Sumner and Richley roads.

Darien Fire Department is dispatched along with Mercy medics and mutual aid from Corfu and Alexander fire departments.

UPDATE 2:39 p.m.: According to a first responder on scene, the fire is contained to one bale of hay inside a small one-story metal shielded structure. The structure is not on fire and they are pulling out the bale of hay that is ablaze.

UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: Now the fire is going into the 30 by 50 foot structure and command says firefighters "should be able knock it down quickly" with a single line.

UPDATE 3:06 p.m.: The fire was extinguished about 10 minutes ago. No structural damage. The assignment will be back in service soon.

A 14-year old boy suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to the hospital for an evaluation after he and his father attempted to put out a fire in their living room with the help of some passing volunteer firefighters on Monday morning.

Pavilion Fire Department along with nine other fire companies from Genesee, Wyoming, and Livingston counties were called to 6397 Ellicott Street Road at about 10 a.m. The fire immediately went to a second alarm as smoke and flames were showing.

One cat and one dog did not survive the fire. One other dog was assisted by Mercy EMS and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department and is now at the animal shelter for observation.

According to Genesee County Fire Coordinator Tim Yaeger, the 14-year-old went out to the barn to tell his father the couch was on fire, the dad attempted to use fire extinguishers to put out the fire. Volunteer firefighters who were passing through the area also assisted in keeping the fire contained. Yaeger says the preliminary investigation shows that an extension cord on a window air conditioner caught the couch on fire.

The Red Cross was called to assist. The family of three does have a place to stay. The house sustained smoke and fire damage, but not much water damage and is repairable.

Alecia Kaus/Video News Service

Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding to Batavia Mobile Home Park for the report of a pile of construction debris that has been smoldering for four days and has caught on fire. The location is 3322 W. Main Street Road, Lot #54.

An unknown type fire at the back of the property is reported at 797 Main Road, Pembroke. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire Departments are responding and East Pembroke is requested to stand by in quarters.

A large grass fire also involving building materials is reported at 7120 Byron Road. The location is between Route 262 and Cochran Road. Byron and South Byron fire departments are responding.

UPDATE 1:40 p.m.: A deputy in Bethany is also responding to the scene.

UPDATE 1:52 p.m.: Byron command reports the fire is out.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m.: Byron command puts the assignment in service "with a warning given" to the person burning the building materials.

A caller reports hearing a loud boom and can now see smoke and flames near a barn in the area of 10740 Transit Road, Bethany.

A second caller reports a chicken coop is on fire.

A responder reports seeing a lot of smoke as he approaches.

Bethany fire responding. The chief has asked for a second alarm. The location is south of Sparks Road.

UPDATE(S) (By Billie) 5:52 p.m.: Alexander, the city's FAST team, Le Roy, Town of Batavia, Pavilion and Stafford are responding as mutual aid. Town of Batavia is also having a crew stand by in quarters.

UPDATE 5:56 p.m.: The city's FAST team is cancelled per Bethany command, so is Town of Batavia Ladder #22 to the scene.

UPDATE 5:58 p.m.: Fire Police are on scene to control/direct traffic. Mutual aid is also on the road responding from Attica and Wyoming.

UPDATE 6:01 p.m.: Genesee County Sheriff's deputies are on scene.

UPDATE 6:12 p.m.: Fire is under control. Responding tankers can continue non-emergency.

A working barn fire is reported in Bergen at 7181 W. Bergen Road. It's gone to a second alarm. Bergen Fire Department is responding, along with mutual aid from Byron, Elba, and the Town of Batavia.

UPDATE 12:07 a.m.: The barn fire is out. The cause is under investigation.

Three train cars of garbage caught on fire in Darien this afternoon and to enable volunteer firefighters to fight the blaze, the train was moved further up the track into Erie County.

Darien Chief Jeff Luker said given how tightly compacted the trash was in the cars, it was a hard fire to fight but the rain was expected to help.

Darien Fire Department along with Pembroke, Corfu, Indian Falls, and Alabama responded to the fire.

Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

A train reportedly has six of its railroad cars on fire, with flames showing, on the tracks near Genesee Street and County Line Road. Darien fire and EMS are responding.

UPDATE 12:11 p.m.: Law enforcement is on scene. Pembroke's tanker is called to provide mutual aid.

UPDATE 12:12 p.m.: Corfu is also called to provide mutal aid to fight the fire.

UPDATE 12:30 p.m.: Erie County asks that Crittenden Road be shut down and law enforcement is responding to do that. Erie County fire police are also responding.

UPDATE 12:59 p.m.: Indian Falls and Alabama fire departments are called to the scene.

UPDATE 1:26 p.m.: The train was pulled into Erie County to provide firefighters with better access to entinguish the blaze. East Pembroke is called to their hall to stand by for all West Battalion calls.

A large unknown-type fire is reported at 57 Ellicott Ave. in the city. City fire is responding.

UPDATE 10:11 p.m.: City ladder 15 is on scene "with a small bonfire."

Someone is reportedly burning rubber and construction materials on property at the northeast corner of Walkers Corner Road and Caswell Road in Byron.

Byron Fire Department is responding, along with law enforcement and a representative from the Department of Environmental Conservation.

A house fire with flames showing is reported at 6657 Swamp Road, Byron. Byron and South Byron fire departments are responding. The location is between Cole and Mud City roads.

Called as mutual aid are: Bergen, Elba, Stafford and Oakfield fire departments, along with the city's FAST Team and Mercy medics.

UPDATE 11:45 p.m.: A first responder on scene reports smoke is in the residence. Command restricts the assignment to Byron, South Byron, Bergen and Elba. Other mutual aid responders, which also included Perry and Clarendon, can go back in service.

UPDATE 11:48 p.m.: No smoke or fire visible outside the residence, according to command. Remaining responding units can proceed in nonemergency mode. National Grid is called to the scene.

UPDATE 11:52 p.m.: Infrared cameras are requested to the scene.

UPDATE 12:17 a.m.: Elba is released from service along with Mercy medics.

A mobile home fire behind a barn is reported at 6258 Oak Orchard Road, Elba.

Flames are showing.

Elba fire along with Town of Batavia, Byron, Oakfield, and City of Batavia FAST Team.

Mercy EMS also dispatched for scene support.

UPDATE 3:03 p.m.: Fire is out.

UPDATE 3:06 p.m.: Red Cross requested to the scene to assist the occupant.

UPDATE 3:07 p.m.: Red Cross is canceled.

UPDATE 3:15 p.m.: A possible second fire near the same location being investigated.

UPDATE 3:38 p.m.: Red Cross responding to assist four adult males.

A stove fire with flames showing is reported at 1451 Indian Falls Road. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding, along with mutual aid from Corfu and the City of Batavia FAST team. The location is between Little Falls Road and Evergreen Drive.

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: "They are reporting the fire is out," says a dispatcher.

A large grass fire is reported at 8289 Sackett Road in Bergen. It is about 30 from a structure a dispatcher called "a shop." The location is between North Lake and West Sweden roads. Bergen Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 1:21 p.m.: Byron's brush truck is called to provide mutual aid. A couple of vehicles are now involved in the blaze.

Photos submitted by Michael Shortt.

Photo by Connie Barberio

A caller reports smoke coming from the back of a residence in the area 6966 Swamp Road, Byron.

Byron and South Byron fire departments dispatched.

UPDATE 8:49 a.m.: Working trailer fire at 6966 Swamp Road. Second alarm sounded. Oakfield, Bergen, Elba, Stafford, and City of Batavia FAST team dispatched.

UPDATE 8:56 a.m.: Fire police requested to shut down traffic on Swamp Road between Hessenthaler Road and Pocock Road. The trailer is reportedly unoccupied.

UPDATE 9 a.m.: City fire's Fourth Platoon recalled to city headquarters.

UPDATE 9:16 a.m.: Fire is out.

We had an electrical fire at our house on Morton Avenue, Batavia, early this morning.

I'm fine. Billie is fine. Rocky is fine (dog). Nellie Bly (puppy) is fine. Fiona (cat) is fine. We're unsure about Maybelline (cat) but she's a survivor and spends a lot of time outside so she's probably fine.

There is a lot of smoke damage but no personal belongings that are important to us were destroyed.  

There is no structural damage.

The fire started with nightlight in the downstairs bathroom at about 2 a.m. and was largely contained to the bathroom because the door was closed.

City fire, Mercy EMS, and Batavia PD responded.

We would like to thank City fire for their quick response and for saving our pets and Batavia PD, as well as all of our neighbors and Alecia Kaus, for their concern and assistance.

UPDATE 7:03 a.m.: Maybelline is safe.