There were two fires reported on Monday at 46 South Lake Ave., Bergen.
The first one was caused by a microwave oven being placed on top of an electric range in an apartment and the range getting accidently turned on.
The cause of the second fire is under investigation but it's possible it was caused by the first fire.
In the case of the first fire, property owner Michael Marvin said he had a new tenant moving into the apartment in his duplex and somebody dropped items off for her earlier today. The new tenant wasn't home when the fire started but the smoke detectors went off and Marvin called 9-1-1 and Bergen Fire arrived on scene quickly and put the fire out.
The first fire was reported at 5:25 p.m. and Deputy Chief Chuck Dodson said when the fire department left the scene there was no indication that anything at all was still burning.
"We did extensive overhaul, the ceiling, the walls, the adjoining rooms, we used a thermal imaging camera, we used Class A foam, which is something that allows the water to penetrate into the wood, so when we left here, we were pretty confident the fire was out," Dodson said.
The second fire was called in by Marvin at 10:55 p.m.
Marvin said he had gone to bed a short time before and had fallen asleep. Something woke him up. It wasn't the smoke detectors. They weren't working after the first fire. He thinks it was the smell of the smoke.
"I was in my room," Marvin said. "I could barely see. I was glad I woke up or I would be dead. I couldn’t even see to get out the door."
Marvin said he got out of the house but then went back in to get his dog.
After rescuing his dog, he rescued the bright red 1966 Chevy Camero SS he's restoring, pushing it out of the garage.
At midnight, firefighters were trying to knock down the last of the hotspots in the structure. The house was still standing but the damage to the entire probably means it is a total loss. Dodson said the goal at that point was to salvage as much of Marvin's personal belongings as possible.
Assisting Bergen at the scene were Le Roy fire, city fire, and Churchville, along with Mercy EMS, the Sheriff's Office, and Emergency Management Services.
The Red Cross was dispatched to assist Marvin.
Top photo submitted by John Zinter of Picture This Photography. The first four photos below by Howard Owens. The bottom two photos by Jim Oehler.
