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Grass fire reportedly spreads to porch on Vine Street

By Howard B. Owens

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A grass fire has reportedly spread to a porch at the back of 30 Vine St., Batavia.

The upstairs apartment may be occupied.

City fire responding.

UPDATE 2:15 p.m.: A quick response by City fire appears to have gotten the fire knocked down before there was any serious structural damage. All occupants exited the apartments safely and no pets were hurt or lost. The fire is under investigation and more information will be released later.

UPDATE 3 p.m.: City fire is back in service.

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Unattended propane heater cited as cause of garage fire Saturday

By Press Release

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Press release:

On Saturday, March 6 at 11:45 a.m. the City of Batavia Fire Department was dispatched to a garage fire at 344 W. Main St., Batavia. City Engine 11 and Ladder 15 arrived at 11:48 a.m. to find a 20’ x 20’ detached wood-frame garage engulfed in flames.

Two hose lines were deployed bringing the fire under control within 10 minutes.  

Destroyed along with the building was a 2014 Toyota Camry and several tools. Two nearby structures received minor damage from radiant heat. No firefighters or civilians were injured.

City of Batavia Fire Department investigators determined the cause of the fire to be accidental due to an unattended portable propane heater.  

The City of Batavia Police Department and Genesee County Emergency Dispatch assisted with the incident.

Captain Marty Hinz

Photo by Howard Owens.

Working horse barn fire reported in Le Roy

By Billie Owens

A working horse barn fire is reported at 7147 Thwing Road, Le Roy, between West Bergen and Warner roads. Le Roy Fire Department is responding, along with a ladder truck from Bergen, a city engine and Le Roy EMS.

UPDATE 3:18 p.m.: Command reports fire is out. Holding responders to Le Roy apparatus only.

UPDATE 3:20 p.m.: National Grid is called to the scene.

UPDATE 3:25 p.m.: An emergency coordinator is called to investigate.

UPDATE 3:36 p.m.: Thwing Road was closed in the vicinity of the barn, but is being reopened.

Barn fire reported at Star Growers

By Howard B. Owens
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A barn fire, with flames showing, is reported at Star Growers, on Starowitz Road, Elba.

Elba fire dispatched. Byron and South Byron asked to stand by in quarters.

UPDATE 10:01 p.m.: A first responder confirms working structure fire and requests a second alarm.

UPDATE 10:02 p.m.: Town of Batavia, Byron, South Byron, along with City Fire's Fast Team dispatched.

UPDATE 12:13 a.m.: Video posted. Fire crews are still on scene. This was a significant structure fire with equipment inside. Chief Mike Heale said crews heard explosions inside upon their arrival. No livestock were involved. No injuries reported. The cause has not been determined.

'Odor of marijuana' apparently sets off fire alarm

By Howard B. Owens

A firefighter that responded to a fire alarm call is on the scene and informs a dispatcher, "the odor of marijuana smoke may have set it off."

"Copy," said the dispatcher, "odor of marijuana smoke."

Since we here at The Batavian pay little attention to fire alarm calls (99.99 percent of the time, false alarms), we didn't catch the location or which agency responded.

Car fire reported at residence on West Main Street, Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

A fully involved car fire is reported near a structure at 73 W. Main St., Le Roy.

Le Roy fire is on scene.

Fire police are closing Route 5 between Royal Drive and Gilbert Street.

UPDATE 6:31 p.m.: Fire is knocked down.

Report of heavy smoke in Hickory Lodge at College Village

By Howard B. Owens

A possible structure fire, with heavy smoke, is reported at Hickory Lodge, College Village, 8170 Batavia Stafford Townline Road.

Town of Batavia fire is dispatched.

UPDATE 2:53 p.m.: The apartment requires ventilation.

Four adults displaced after fire in upstairs bedroom at house in Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

Four adults were displaced by a late-night fire in Le Roy on Monday but Le Roy Chief Craig Johnson credited volunteers keeping things from getting worse at 95 Summit St. after a fire was reported to an upstairs bedroom.

"Our guys did a great job of getting in there quickly and getting the fire knocked down," Johnson said. "They definitely saved the house."

The fire contained to the bedroom. There is some water damage and smoke damage on the second floor. 

The four adults were able to relocate with family members and Johnson said because power was cut to the house because of the fire, it will be some time before the house can be occupied again.

No injuries were reported.

The residents did not have any pets, Johnson said.

Along with Le Roy, responding agencies included Bergen, Stafford, City of Batavia, Pavilion, and Town of Batavia was a fill-in at Le Roy's hall.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

House fire reported on Summit Street, Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

A house fire is reported at 75 Summit St., Le Roy.

A caller reports a fire in a second-floor bedroom.

Le Roy fire and Bergen fire dispatched. City's Fast Team dispatched.

UPDATE 10:30 p.m.: Second alarm. Stafford, Pavilion dispatched. Town of Batavia to fill in at Le Roy station.

House fire reported in Village of Le Roy at 61 Mill St.

By Billie Owens

A house fire is reported in the Village of Le Roy at 61 Mill St.; the location is between Wright Avenue and Pleasant Street. Smoke and flames are showing. Le Roy, Bergen, and City of Batavia fire departments are responding.

UPDATE 7:53 p.m.: Fire is out. City fire is to return to quarters, per Le Roy command. Bergen is to stand by in Le Roy's fire headquarters. The roadway(s) in the vacinity of Mill Street to be shut down temporarily.

House fire reported on South Street Road, Pavilion

By Howard B. Owens

A structure fire is reported at 10828 S. Street Road, Pavilion.

Smoke is coming from the HVAC system.

Pavilion fire and Le Roy fire dispatched.

Law enforcement is also dispatched to the scene.

UPDATE 8 a.m.: A chief on scene reports nothing showing. Le Roy's response is canceled.

UPDATE 8:12 a.m.: A chief is out with the homeowner. There is no fire. The initial caller reported possible criminal activity at the scene. So far, none of that is confirmed.

Possible fire reported on Gabbey Road, Pembroke

By Howard B. Owens

A possible chimney fire or furnace problem is reported at 1173 Gabbey Road, Pembroke.

Pembroke fire, Indian Falls fire, and City of Batavia's FAST team is dispatched.

UPDATE 10:41 p.m.: The caller at the residence contacted a commander at City fire and informed the commander that sparks and/or flames could be seen coming out of the top of the chimney. A service provider had advised the caller that the company would check on the chimney tomorrow. The commander advised the caller to evacuate. The Indian Falls chief is asking City fire to continue nonemergency. The residence is being evacuated per the emergency dispatcher.

UPDATE 10:45 p.m.: Chief on scene reports nothing showing.

UPDATE 10:47 p.m.: City fire can go back in service. No fire.

Fire reported in living room of residence on Richley Road in Darien

By Billie Owens

A third-party caller reports a living room fire in a residence at 1781 Richley Road in Darien. Darien Fire Department and Ambulance Service are responding, along with Mercy medics. The location is between Colby and Harper roads.

UPDATE 6:58 p.m.: An engine and manpower from Corfu are called to respond as mutual aid.

UPDATE 7:04 p.m.: A chief on scene says units responding can continue in nonemergency mode as a precaution; a thermal-imaging camera will be deployed.

UPDATE 7:34 p.m.: The Darien and Corfu assignments are back in service.

Fully involved garage fire is reported on Main Road, Pembroke

By Howard B. Owens

A fully involved garage fire is reported at 590 Main Road, Pembroke.

The detached garage is about 50 feet from the residence and has multiple cars in it. 

The residence has been evacuated of people and pets.

Pembroke fire, Indian Falls fire, and the City's fast team dispatched.

UPDATE 5:38 a.m.: A second alarm requested. Alabama fire, Town of Batavia fire, Corfu fire, Darien fire, requested to the scene. Route 5 is being closed between the county line and just east of the Pembroke Fire Hall. 

UPDATE 5:47 a.m.: Firefighters have two lines on the garage and the fire is knocked down. The house was not involved though some vinyl melted. Alabama is being diverted from the fire to a fill in at Indian Falls Fire Hall.

UPDATE 5:53 a.m.: State Department of Transportation requested to standby. The road will need to be salted after the fire response is completed.

UPDATE 5:54 a.m.: The garage is all metal. "We're going to need to pull it apart to get it out," a chief reports. The house is fine and "all cooled down." Minimal damage to one vinyl window. 

UPDATE 5:58 a.m.: Town Highway is responding in about 45 minutes for the icy road. "Perfect timing," a chief responds.

UPDATE 6 a.m.: Alabama did have a tanker responding to the scene. It can go back in service. Darien fire can go back in service.

UPDATE 6:15 a.m.: Town of Batavia and City Fire Engine 11 can go back in service.

UPDATE 7:22 a.m.: East Pembroke is back in service.

Shed fire reported on Byron Road in Stafford

By Billie Owens

A shed fire about 50 feet behind a residence is reported at 8050 Byron Road, Stafford. Unknown contents of the shed. The location is between the Thruway and School Road. Stafford fire is responding.

UPDATE 3:07 p.m.: A first responder confirms this is a working fire, 60 to 70 feet behind the residence. Responders are told to come in non-emergency mode. There is no water hyrdrant available.

UPDATE 3:14 p.m.: South Byron fire is called to the scene.

UPDATE 3:16 p.m.: Shed fire is out, command reports.

UPDATE 3:17 p.m.: South Byron is put back in service.

UPDATE 3:44 p.m.: Command requests an investigator to the scene.

UPDATE 3:47 p.m.: It is agreed a Sheriff's deputy should respond to the fire scene first "to see what we have" before bringing in an investigator.

Silo fire reported at farm on Chapell Road, Byron

By Howard B. Owens

A silo fire is reported at 5625 Chapell Road, Byron.

A farmworker will meet a chief roadside. It is a conformed silo fire, the dispatcher told a chief.

The location is just east of Transit Road.

Byron, South Byron fire departments dispatched. Town of Batavia's ladder truck along with an engine from Elba requested to the scene.

UPDATE 7:39 a.m.: Batavia can stand down. The silo is about 15 feet in diameter and contains wood chips. The location is apparently a transfer station and not a farm. 

UPDATE 7:48 a.m.: Byron command is all set with the equipment on location.

UPDATE 8:44 a.m.: Assignment back in service.

Chimney fire reported on Harrold Square in the city

By Billie Owens

A chimney fire is reported at 6 Harrold Square in the City of Batavia. City fire is responding.

UPDATE 6:28 p.m.: A first responder says this is a one-story wood-frame house with embers coming out of the chimney.

UPDATE 6:32 p.m.: The occupants have exited the structure.

Leaf burning reported on Vine Street, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

City fire and Batavia PD are responding to a location in the first block of Vine Street for a report of a resident burning leaves.

UPDATE 12:35 p.m.: Fire scene commander: "Recreational fire. We're not making him put it out."

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