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Batavia: My T Acres barns engulfed in flames

By Howard B. Owens

UPDATE 10:54 a.m.: The fire is at 8127 Lewiston Rd. in Batavia.  A large plume of black smoke can be seen drifting over the city of Batavia.

UPDATE: 11:17 a.m.  We're at the scene (after a long walk because State Troopers wouldn't let us drive in). 

Owner of the property Pat Riner says they noticed a small flame coming from one of the barns and the fire spread quickly.  A silo appears to have fallen. UPDATE: After the flames and smoke cleared, I decided what looked like the ribs of a silo were just part of the barn that had been fully engulfed.

The facility is My-T acres.

Witnesses said they heard explosions. Riner said the explosions where mostly truck engines. The barn that caught fire was full of harvester equipment, "because the harvest is over." She said. Also, a truck was full of ferilizer for next year.

The structure is adjacent ot a barn that Riner described as a sports facility used by many athletes in Batavia.  As we post now, the fire is spreading to that structures while crews battle the flames from atop two ladder trucks, spraying water down onto the flames.

We should have a quick video posted in 30 to 60 minutes.

Philip Anselmo will follow up with more reports once he's on scene.

UPDATE: 11:29 a.m.:  Crews put additonal hoses on the sprots-structure fire. The fire seems well tapped down at that end of the building now. I'd estimate about 15 to 20 percent of the structure was lost.

UPDATE 11:52 a.m. : Here's a quick video from the scene.

UPDATE 12:08 p.m.: Spoke with Genesee County Emergency Management Coordinator Timothy Yaeger briefly. No loss of life. No injuries. No animals known to be involved. About 12 companies responded.  Flames can still be seen in an around the structure, but the fire appears to be under control.

UPDATE 2:31 p.m.:  The fire is under control and nearly extinquished. Some of the companies that responded are now back in service.

Below is one of the pictures from the scene.  More can be viewed here.

 

UPDATE:  If you were at the scene and took pictures, or took pictures of the plume over Batavia, please upload them in a blog post or send us a link to where ever you posted your shots.

Here's a camera phone shot taken from the Thruway.

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FIRST POST 10:40 a.m.: We've received reports of a large barn fire in Pembroke Batavia.  Multiple units responding, from as far away and LeRoy.

We'll head out to the scene now.

Daniel Jones

It's relieving to hear that there was no loss of life, my prayers are with the families that may suffer an economic loss due to the fire.

Howard-Very good reporting here.

Dec 4, 2008, 1:43pm Permalink
jr Smith

Good updates.... Long day for everyone involved I'm sure.
This is the second serious Barn fire in Genesee County this week. With exceptional work done at both scenes to save surronding structures. I hope everyone realizes that the majority of the firefighters at both scenes were 100% volunteer.
Thank god no lives were lost in either fire... my thoughts and prayers to everyone involved.

Dec 4, 2008, 3:00pm Permalink
Teresa Spink

Good to hear that everyone is ok. My family had a barn fire a few years back. I understand the feel that the farmers go thru. My thoughts and prayers goes to everyone!!

Dec 4, 2008, 4:46pm Permalink
Zachary Pontillo

injured apart from a minor injury to a Town of Batavia Fire Fighter
It was a bruised shin.
and i also send my prayers to those who may suffer from this fire.

TBFD

Dec 16, 2008, 2:12pm Permalink

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