WBTA's Dan Fischer reports this morning that "faulty Halloween decorations" may have caused the fire that ripped through a South Byron home yesterday morning. Fire officials said yesterday that the home may be a total loss, estimating the damage at more than $50,000 already. No one was home at the time of the blaze at the property owned by Anthony Frongetta. A pet dog died in the fire.
The fire broke out approx 8:30 am this morning after the couple left their home for work. I spoke with Wendy Frongetta one of the owners of the home at 6323 East Main St. South Byron. Wendy spoke of the loss of her Dog "Frank" he was the sweetest 7yr. old pit-bull that they loved who did not escape the fire. Heavy fire damage claimed about 80 percent of the home. No other injuries were reported and cause is yet to be determined pending investigation. Many fire crews were on the scene putting out the blaze.
Motorists dropping off students at Batavia High School are urged not to use the central bus loop, which is for buses only, according to WBTA's Dan Fischer. There are safety concerns in allowing buses and passenger vehicles in the same area. If you are picking up or dropping off students, please use the "pick-up circle" near the band room.
City Council will meet tonight at 7:00pm in the Council chambers at City Hall.
Two children died in a house fire Sunday in the village of Fredonia. More details can be found in an article from the Jamestown Post-Journal.
In Medina, a school teacher was arrested and charged with official misconduct. Scott Ballard, 33, is accused of initiating relationships with two of his former students. More details can be found in an article from the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal.
Two weeks ago today, Patrick Burk left a comment here on The Batavian that caught our attention and that we thought might deserve to catch the attention of some other folks. It was the day after a fire destroyed the home of a Byron family (the Schramms). He wrote:
Maybe the Muckdogs can help this poor family of ten foster children that just lost thier entire home this Saturday..... Have players and/or employees do collections for them. This act of compassion would be the icing on the cake of a fine season indeed. Just a thought.
Well, what was just a thought has become reality. Thanks to a little bit of tenacity on our part and willingness from every corner, the Batavia Muckdogs have agreed to host a collection drive and a fundraiser at the home game Saturday versus State College.
Here are the details:
The Schramm family’s home burned in the afternoon on Wednesday, August 27, 2008. The entire family of 15 survived but are now left with little or none of their personal belongings. While they have received a lot of clothing through the generosity of many in the community, their needs are still great.
Among items they are requesting are non-perishable foods, personal care products, large cooking pots and pans, bedding and towels, gift cards or cash donations.
Please bring only new items. The Muckdogs will also be holding an auction of baseball memorabilia during the game on Saturday night at 7:05 vs. State College, to help raise money. All proceeds will go to the Schramm family.
So for Patrick and anyone else who may have asked: What can I do? There is your answer. Head out to the game this weekend to not only support the hometown team as they try for the pennant but to help out your neighbors, too.
For those who don't already have all the info about the team, here's that:
Location: Dwyer Stadium, 299 Bank Street, Batavia, NY 14020
Phone: 585-343-5454; Fax: 585-343-5620
E-mail
Website
Tickets: $6 – box seats; $5 – general admission; $1 OFF – group rate (20+ people)
Season Tickets: $175 – box seats; $130 – general admission
Eleven fire crews were needed to battle a blaze that ripped through a house in Byron yesterday evening. Homeowners Ronald and Theodora Schramm were inside with eight children and one other adult when they smelled smoke and heard the flames. Ronald rushed everyone out of the house, opened the garage door and tried to fight back the flames with a garden hose while someone else dialed 911. The fire was far too tough, however, and Ronald was beat back by the heat. No one was injured.
The home at 6999 Bank Street Road was too far from any hydrant to hook up the fire hoses, so crews had to truck in tankfuls of water, said Tim Yager, coordinator of Genesee County Emergency Management Services. That made for a "labor intensive" fight that raged for more than two hours. Yager said there was a lot of "chasing the fire" around to get it completely extinguished.
Although the front part of the home escaped the complete damage that ravaged the rear of the structure, Yaeger thinks it will be a total loss. The home is insured.
No cause has yet been determined, said Yaeger. Crews have ruled out an electrical cause, but there was a shop area in the garage where the fire originated and some tools were plugged in to outlets there.
"At this point we're calling it accidental and undetermined," he said. That may never change.
The Daily News reports that the Schramms "have been foster parents for the county Department of Social Services for years," and "Theodora "Teddie" Schramm was honored for outstanding contribution to the department's Children's Services Division."
Breaking news... Firefighters are tackling a blaze at a home in Byron right now. Genesee County sheriff's deputies have confirmed that the residence is at 6999 Bank Street Road in the town of Byron. We will update with more information as it becomes available.
UPDATED (Thursday at 7 a.m. by Howard): WHAM reports:
A family that provides foster care for children escaped from a house fire Wednesday afternoon on Bank Road in Byron, Genesee County.
Firefighters said 10 children and 3 adults got out safely from the 100-year-old home.
You've likely already read our coverage of last night's City Council meeting, when we posted it last night, so we won't bother with a recap of Joanne Beck's articles about the meeting in today's Daily News. Instead, we'll jump right to the local section...
Reporter Paul Mrozek tells us that the fire Friday at Willow Specialties caused more than $100,000 in damage—but it could have been much worse. Willow CEO Jeff Daggs said: "Ninety percent of our product is not damaged. That's what we believe right now."
Matt Surtel put together a nice tribute piece about Jenny Snow, the news director at WCJW, Warsaw's AM radio station, who died unexpectedly at her home Saturday at the age of 53.
The Genesee County Legislature will meet Wednesday in a special session to vote on the proposed consolidation of dispatch services that was approved last night by Batavia's City Council. City police dispatchers will make the move to the sheriff's office on Park Road complete by Monday. That meeting will be at 7:00pm at the Old County Courthouse.
Roger Muehlig was in Le Roy Monday when Republican Congressional candidate Christopher Lee stopped by Stein Farms to chat with area farmers about labor issues. Muehlig writes: "Lee, a political newcomer, said he didn't have all the answers, but one of the reasons he was successful in business was that he listens to everyone." That's well and good. But there are already plenty of politicians in Albany who are good at listening. Anyone can listen. We don't need more people to listen. We need people to act.
For these and other stories, pick up a copy of the Daily News at local newsstands. Or, better yet, subscribe at BataviaNews.com.
Batavia's City Council will meet tonight at 7:00pm at City Hall, according to WBTA. The meeting, originally scheduled for August 11, was postponed twice. Council is expected to vote on whether to fund the replacement of a sign for the mall. Also meeting tonight at 7:00pm is the Board of Education. They will assemble at the administration building on Washington Avenue.
No cause has yet been determined in the fire at Willow Industries at 34 Clinton Street that erupted Friday night. The fire was brought under control shortly after midnight. Damage was confined to the warehouse, and some of the materials inside are reported destroyed by fire. Steve Ognibene was driving by that evening when he spotted the fire trucks. He put together this video footage of the scene, which was sent to the Batavian over the weekend:
Reports have come in about some wires down on Junction Road between South Lake and Perry roads in the Pavilion district. Fire crews are on the scene. But if you've got to head that way, you may want to think detour.
Check out WBTA for these and other stories:
These photos were sent to us this morning of the fire at Cristina's Restaurant on Ellicott Street. Batavia firefighters say that the blaze broke out around 1:00am this morning when the building was vacant. There were no injuries, and the fire is reported as under control.
Photos taken by Steve Ognibene.
From the Daily News (Friday):
For the complete stories, the Daily News is available on local newsstands, or you can subscribe on BataviaNews.com.
Batavia will host a public hearing later this summer on the state's proposed changes to the open burning law. The Daily Mail in Greene County reported that the town of Athens is right now taking a closer look at those changes and urging residents to get involved.
"There are a lot of small communities in the state, particularly here in upstate New York, where burn barrels are used on a regular basis," said a Council member in Athens.
Open fires are currently banned only in cities, villages and towns with populations greater than 20,000.
Changes being considered by the state Department of Environmental Conservation would "limit agricultural burning to naturally grown products such as vines, branches, leaves and stubble." Exception will be made for "fire training, small cooking, campfires and ceremonial fires."
The hearing in Batavia will be held Juy 2. No other information was given about the session, its location or time.
DEC invites all persons, organizations, corporations and government agencies that may be affected by the proposed revisions to attend the hearings. In addition, written statements may be submitted to DEC until 5 p.m., July 10.
For more information on the proposals, information may be obtained from Robert Stanton, professional engineer, DEC’s Division of Air Resources, at the Albany’s Broadway address or by calling (518) 402-8403.
Is open burning an issue in and around Batavia? It's clear that agriculture has a major presence here. Would any farmers be directly affected by these changes? What is being burned now that would not be permitted if the changes go through?
The Genesee County Sheriff's Office released an official statement last night citing a smoldering cigarette as the "probable" cause of the house fire at Lewiston Road Friday that claimed the life of 17-year-old Erik Mooney. WBTA reports that Mooney's mother, July Clark, "told investigators she had been smoking in the enclosed porch where the fire was believed to have started."
Previous related posts:
From the Daily News (Monday):
Subscribe to the Daily News at BataviaNews.com, or pick up a copy at a local newsstand, such as Main Street Coffee.
There are no new developments this afternoon in the Lewiston Road fire that claimed the life of 17-year-old Erik Mooney (previous post).
Attempts to contact fire officials this afternoon were unsuccesful.
We also tried contacting somebody with the area Red Cross to see what arrangements were being made to assist the family, but were unsuccessful.
Below are yearbook photos of Michael, 15, and Erik (right).
UPDATE: Video story from WHAM.
UPDATE II: Here's News 8 coverage. Watch the video to about 3/4 of the way in and notice how the reporter and producer insinuate that there is something suspicious about Erik not getting out of the house. Classic Mainstream Media technique to remain "objective" while pumping up the story with some controversy. It's not just a TV thing. Print does it, too. (Also, warning -- obnoxious pre-roll advertising on the video).
WKBW in Buffalo also posted a video report.
WIVB out of Buffalo has two video reports posted. Good, detailed, balanced and sensative stories.
In today's Daily News:
Subscribe to the Daily News at BataviaNews.com, or pick up a copy at a local newsstand, such as Main Street Coffee.
News 10 reports this morning that a 2 a.m. fire at 7881 Lewiston Road took the life of a 17-year-old boy.
Firefighters found him at the top of a staircase. He was taken to United Memorial Medical Center where he was prounounced dead at 3:30 a.m.
His brother managed to escape the fire by jumping from a bathroom window, but injured his arm in the fall.
The mother of the two boys escaped without injury.
The chief said the fire started on a porch and spread to the house. There were heavy flames when they arrived on scene.
The WHEC web story includes video.
We imagine WBTA will update its news page soon and will likely have the names of the victims this morning along with the latest additional information.
UPDATE: The names of the victims have not been released yet, WBTA reports.
UPDATE II: WBTA reports:
The Genesee County Sheriff's office has identified the boy as Erik Mooney of 7881 Lewiston Rd.
Erik, his mother, 41-year-old Judy Clark and 15-year-old brother Michael were all at home when the fire started. Judy suffered smoke inhalation. Michael cut his arm jumping from a bathroom window. Both were treated at UMMC in Batavia.
UPDATE III: The D&C reports:
Another resident, Scott Clark, 47, was not home when the fire broke out, deputies said. He was at work.
The brothers are both students at Oakfield-Alabama Central School District. District Superintendent Christopher Todd this morning said the mood in the 1,000-student distinct was somber and that many of the students were “having a tough day.”
“It’s awful, but we’ll band together,” he said. Grief counselors are available at Oakfield-Alabama Middle/High School today to assist students, faculty and staff, Todd said.
...
Judy Clark told firefighters that a sounding smoke detector and barking family dog alerted her of the blaze.
Genesee County Fire Coordinator and Manager Tim Yaeger said authorities are trying to confirm a report that Judy Clark attempted to extinguish the blaze with a garden hose this morning. He said authorities did not know whether that occurred before or after she called 911.
UPDATE IV: WHAM coverage can be seen here.
UPDATE: Here's the video. Original post below. We have no additional information at this time.
Fire dispatchers received a call of a house fire at 8700 S. Lake Road in Corfu area at about 2 p.m.
Apparently, nobody was home and there were no reported injuries.
A family of five rents the two-story structure. Reportedly, their cats were in the house and may have perished.
The fire appears to have started in the kitchen area, which sustained the most damage, and spread to the living room and up the stairs.
The Red Cross has been notified.
A cause has not been determined.
Units from Pembroke, East Pembroke, Corfu, Akron, Batavia and others responded.
We expect to post a video within a couple of hours (assuming no technical difficulties).
A reporter from WBTA was also on scene, so tune into 1490 for further reports.
BataviaFuneralHomes.com contains the following message to the media:
To the Media:
The Byron-Bergen community has again experienced a great tragedy. Our community grieves over the loss of the Reis Family. On behalf of the surviving Reis family, I would like to present you with a few requests.
The memorial service is to be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Byron-Bergen High School in the Gymnasium. The family has asked that no video cameras or flash photography be used inside the building before, durring or after the service.
For your advance information, there will be no casketed remains present at the service.
They've also posted the following obituaries:
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