A City of Batavia fire crew was just dispatched to the Manor House senior housing complex at 427 E. Main St.. They're on scene and report nothing visible.

UPDATE (2 p.m.): Fire fighters have returned to service. Apparently, it was a false alarm or an insignicant incident.

Fire crews are responding to a report of a grain bin fire at 2947 Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road, between Hutton Road and South Pearl Street. Other structures are nearby the fire.

Tankers have been requested from East Pembroke and Alabama.

UPDATE: East Pembroke's tanker is asked to respond in a non-emergency capacity. Alabama has been asked to stand down.

UPDATE (2:03 p.m.): Fire is out.

Engine 12 and Ladder 15 barely left the station for a fire alarm at 375 W. Main St. before a Sheriff's deputy on scene reported that the cause of the alarm was burnt food.

Within two minutes of arriving on scene, Ladder 15 returned to station.

UPDATE 9:57 p.m.: Engine 12 returning to quarters.

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A garage fire that destroyed a car, a truck, a lawn tractor and an ATV last night was sparked by a short in an electrical outlet, according to a Sheriff's Office investigation.

The fire was first reported at 12:47 a.m. at 8880 Allegheny Road in Corfu and well before the first fire units could arrive, the garage was fully engulfed in flames.

No residents of the Swiatowy home were injured, nor were any firefighter injuries reported.

The garage was unoccupied at the time.

Destroyed were a 1984 Olds Delta 88, a 2003 Ford F150 pickup truck, an ATV and a lawn tractor. A tractor parked outside of the garage was also damaged.

The home is insured.

Sgt. Brian Frieday investigated the incident.

UPDATE 10:29 p.m.: Above is a reader-submitted photo of the fire we received a little while ago.

Previously: Garage fire reported in Corfu

An electrical extension cord running through a basement window to a detached garage is the likely cause of a fire this morning at 2320 Judge Road, Alabama.

All five family members at the home escaped safely, and firefighters rescued the family's dog and cat.

Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Yaeger called the use of the extension cord "improper."

The fire caused $60,000 to $70,000 damage to the structure and contents of the home.

The extension cord ignited the window frame, and the fire climbed up the outside wall, crawling into second-floor bedroom, into the eaves and eventually into the attic. It also was just beginning to ignite a first-floor living room couch when the fire was suppressed.

It took units from Alabama and Oakfield an hour to fight the fire.

The home, owned by Jim Venzey and rented by Dave Kinney, was insured, Yaeger said.

Previously: House fire reported on Judge Road in Alabama

A house fire has been reported at 2320 Judge Road, and a second alarm has been reported.

The caller reports heavy smoke, flames and glass breaking.

Alabama, a full response from Oakfield and an Elba pumper have been requested.

UPDATE: First responder reports, nobody is in the house.

UPDATE 9:54 a.m.: A crew inside reports there was a fire in a bedroom. The fire is knocked down a this time and the crew is checking for extensions.

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A detached garage at 8880 Alleghany Road is fully engulfed in flames.

Fire units from Corfu and East Pembroke have responded.

Fire police have been dispatched to shut down traffic at routes 5 and 77 as well as routes 33 and 77.

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The odor of something burning in a structure at LeRoy High School has been reported and a Pavilion pumper truck and a ladder truck have been requested. It's at 9300 S. Street Road.

A three-man crew is now at the scene. A LeRoy ladder truck is in route. Wyoming County is also ready to respond.

UPDATE: heard on scanner: "They can get to (the smoke) from inside -- they don't need a ladder. Response: "I don't want them inside now."

Ladder truck now on scene.

UPDATE: Smoke is definately coming from the building, which has been evacuated.

UPDATE (12:07 p.m.): Bergen's fire truck is being returned to service. Pavilion is staying on standby. Students are being let back into the school. Things are under control.

UPDATE: (12:18 p.m.): All units are back in service.

A truck fire has been reported at Route 19 and Townline Road in Bergen, across from the car dealership.

First responder reports, "One fully involved vehicle."

Smoke detectors awoke a Bank Street family this morning, allowing the people in the lower apartment unit to escape safely from a fire that started in an improperly lined chimney, according to a Batavia Fire Department release this morning.

Upon arrival at the 2:20 a.m. alarm, Batavia firefighters entered the upper apartment and awoke the two occupants and escorted them safely from the building.

Firefighters initially responded to the call of a "house filled with smoke."

The fire caused an estimated $30,000 damage to the house and $15,000 to its contents.

No smoke detectors were present in the upper unit, which was located at 140 Bank St..

UPDATE: WBTA spoke with Captain Michael Drew (MP3) of the Batavia Fire Department. Chief Ralph Hyde also told WBTA that the chimney was designed for gas heating and the occupants tried burning wood in the fireplace.

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An abandoned house has reportedly caught on fire at 8038 N. Pembroke Road.

Earlier today there was a report of a controlled burn. According to Dispatch, the owner of the house, who was burning brush earlier, called to say the fire had spread to the house.

East Pembroke and Alabama fire departments are being dispatched.

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A van fire has been reported at 7500 York Road in Pavilion. The caller reports her van was being worked on. There is a lot of smoke, but no visible flames.

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A car fire has been reported on Route 262 just west of Route 19 in Bergen. Bergen Fire is responding. A first responder reports visible flames from the engine compartment.

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Bergen Volunteer Fire Department is working a small bursh fire at 14 Gates St. It's described as "two small piles."  No report yet of it turning out to be a controlled burn.

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A fire early Thursday morning that killed Gary Horner, 58, was the result of careless smoking, fire investigators said this morning.

Horner died of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Lt. Jay Steinbrenner, of the Batavia Fire Department.

The fire was reported about 3 a.m. Friday at 5 Dellinger Ave. when a passerby heard a smoke detector and smelled smoke.

Horner lived in a second floor apartment. The four occupants of the lower apartment were safely evacuated.

UPDATE: The victim has been identified by Batavia Police as Gary Horner, 58.

Original post:

Officials are still trying to contact the family of a man killed in a 3 a.m. fire on Dellinger Avenue.

His name has not yet been officially released.

The initial call of the fire came in at 3:08 a.m. when a passerby reported hearing firm alarms and could smell smoke.

Firefighters arrived at 5 Dellinger Ave. at 3:10 a.m.

Firefighters performed an initial search of the second floor apartment and found a male occupant in the bedroom.  He had apparently succumbed to injuries by the time he was found.

Four occupants of the lower apartment were evacuated safely.

WBTA interviewed one of the lower apartment residents, Ella Morrison (MP3).

The building is owned by David Ferry of Buffalo.

The fire caused an estimated $15,000 damage to the building and $5,000 damage to contents.

The cause remains under investigation.

Photo courtesy The Batavian's news partner, WBTA.

Previously:  Man dies in fire on Dellinger Avenue

UPDATE: We are aware that another news organization has reported the name of the victim. It is the policy of The Batavian, as well as our news partner WBTA, not to release the names of victims of fatal fires and accidents until authorities have confirmed that next-of-kin have been notified.

One man is dead after a fire and smoke swept through a second-floor apartment bedroom early this morning on Dellinger Avenue.

A passing motorist called 9-1-1 after hearing the smoke detectors at about 3:00 a.m.

The name of the victim has not yet been released.

No other people were in the apartment.

The occupants of the first-floor apartment escaped safely.

The last fatal fire in the City was three years ago yesterday.

Further details coming soon.

A semi-truck is on fire at 99 Jackson, in front of Kwik Fill. City fire units are being dispatched.

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UPDATE: Photos:

Le Roy firefighters are battling a grass fire in the area of 8195 Warner Road.

Stafford Fire Department brush truck has been asked to provide mutual aid.

UPDATE 2:55 p.m.: Bergen's brush truck just requested.

UPDATE 2:58 p.m.: Le Roy cancels Bergen request. Bergen standing down.

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HAWLEY OPPOSED TO NEW BURN BAN REGULATIONS

Outlines Effects of New DEC Statewide Burn Ban Regulations

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, I, C – Batavia) today discussed his ardent opposition to the state Department of Environmental Conversation’s (DEC) new statewide burn ban regulations while appearing on a series of radio interviews, including WHAM Talk Radio.  The new regulations, which prohibit open fires in populations greater than 20,000, were announced by the DEC last week.

“While the DEC claims that there will be no additional mandates for local governments, that is clearly untrue.  In fact, the DEC admits that local government waste managements will have to expand in order to accommodate the increased amount of waste the burn ban will create.  Additionally, even though the DEC estimates that the additional cost to residents would be around $50 per ton of waste, Western New Yorkers’ household budgets are already squeezed too hard.  How much more ‘big government’ can our rural communities take?” asked Hawley, who voted against a similar piece of legislation, A.5457 of 2007, when it came before the Assembly (the bill was held in committee in 2008).

After the failure of such legislation to pass both houses of the State Legislature, discussions about instituting new statewide burn ban regulations began in the spring of 2008.  Immediately, Hawley contacted the DEC to express his opposition to the measure and his feelings that creating a new regulation, in lieu of a law, was circumventing the legislative process.  Additionally, that July, when the DEC held public hearings regarding the initiative, Hawley appeared before the panel to verbally express his opposition.

Due to the widespread opposition from rural communities regarding a statewide burn ban, the proposal was changed slightly to allow for a number of exemptions, including allowing on-site burning in towns with populations less than 20,000.  This and a dozen other exemptions were included as part of the DEC’s final burn ban proposal announced several days ago, yet no provisions were outlined to assist local governments in affording or accommodating the increased amounts of waste.  As detailed in the DEC’s “Express Terms 6 NYCRR Part 215:”

“This is due, for the most part, to the 6 NYCRR Part 360 Regulations which were promulgated on December 15, 1988. These regulations required each county to be responsible for the management and disposal of all municipal solid waste generated in their area. Most counties formed solid waste management associations and either built a landfill, built a series of transfer stations, or both. In turn, the municipalities which were now responsible for waste disposal would pay for the cost of disposal by raising taxes, charging fees at transfer stations, or both. For example, a rural community with a population of 1000 might expect their cost of transport and disposal of solid waste to increase by as much as $12,155.00 per year. This is based on data provided by the Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials and assumes the following worst case factors: one resident in three currently uses a burn barrel to dispose of their waste; an average person produces four pounds of solid waste a day; and the cost of transport and disposal of solid waste is $50.00 per ton…

“There will likely be a need for more employees (or employee hours) at rural solid waste transfer stations and at private waste haulers. Rural solid waste transfer stations are usually small facilities where residents bring their refuse, leaves, brush and recyclables. They typically consist of nothing more than a few roll-off containers into which residents deposit their wastes. When the containers are full, they are carted off to a permitted, composite lined solid waste landfill.

“Due to the potential increase in the amount of household waste, brush, and land clearing debris, communities may need to upgrade these transfer facilities. Most rural transfer stations are located on adequate land for expansion; many of them being located at a former landfill which was closed under 6 NYCRR Part 360 regulations. Upgrades would primarily consist of large trash compactors for household refuse, and wood chippers or tub grinders for brush and land clearing debris. Some communities currently rent tub grinders on a weekly or monthly basis to reduce brush/limbs to wood chips or mulch. These products can in turn be given back to the residents or used in municipal landscaping projects.”

As Hawley explains, “Sure, right now, a waste facility in a rural community may consist of just a few bins so, in theory, asking a local government to purchase a couple more bins doesn’t seem like a huge deal.  However, the reason why there is such little waste, as used in their statistics, is because in rural communities like ours, people burn their waste to keep it out of the landfills.  The statistics that the DEC is using are not realistic, therefore, the ‘marginal’ costs they estimate for our communities cannot be on target either.”

The DEC plans to submit their proposed regulation to the state within the next few days.  If approved, the new regulation would go into effect after 30 days.  However, Hawley has signed onto and supports A.7414, bipartisan legislation to prohibit the DEC from restricting the burning of garbage, refuse or rubbish in an open fire on land possessed by a single family or any part of a farm under certain circumstances.

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