The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing and testing fire hydrants on Tuesday, May 7 through Thursday May 9 from approximately 9 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. in the general area of North of Main Street and West of Bank Street.
Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored.
If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about 5 minutes or until clear. This annual testing is essential to maintain the communities class III Insurance Services Office (ISO) public protection classification, and to assure that fire hydrants are operating efficiently for fire protection purposes.
Along with maintaining the fire rating, the test monitors the health of the city's water system, identifies weak areas in the system, and removes material that settle in the water lines. Checking each hydrant improves fire department personnel knowledge of the hydrant locations.
If you have any questions, or should notice a hydrant in need of repair, please contact the fire department at 585-345-6375.
The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants from Monday, April 29 through Thursday, May 2 from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the general area south of East Main Street and East of Jackson Street. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected.
These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about five minutes or until clear.
This annual testing is essential to maintain the communities' Class III Insurance Services Office (ISO) public protection classification and to assure that fire hydrants are operating efficiently for fire protection purposes.
Along with maintaining the fire rating, the test monitors the health of the city's water system, identifies weak areas in the system, and removes material that settles in the water lines. Checking each hydrant improves fire department personnel's knowledge of the hydrant locations.
If you have any questions or should notice a hydrant in need of repair, please contact the Fire Department at 585-345-6375.
On Sunday, February 18, 2024, the City of Batavia Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 14 McKinley Ave. in the City of Batavia. Initial fire units arrived on-scene four minutes after the initial dispatch, reporting heavy fire from the front door of the residence, and requested a second alarm.
Crews stretched a hose line and made entry into the building for fire attack and searched for any occupants as other crews were securing a water source on McKinley. Crews quickly reported that the initial fire hydrant was inoperable and immediately began to look for another one in the area. While this water disruption was only for a brief amount of time, the high winds caused the fire to grow extremely fast resulting in the order to evacuate fire crews from the building and fight the fire defensively.
All residents were able to exit the structure prior to fire department arrival. One adult resident was transported by ambulance to Strong Memorial hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and burns to the lower legs. The house consisted of an upper and lower apartment, suffered significant fire damage and is considered a total loss, displacing seven people.
Fire investigators were able to determine the origin to be a downstairs bedroom in the center of the residence, in the area of a mattress. The cause is unknown.
The City of Batavia Fire Department checks the nearly 600 fire hydrants in the city annually. This consists of checking for proper operation, pressure, and greasing the caps. If a hydrant is deemed to be damaged or out of service, it is reported to the Water Department. The Water Department responds promptly and works very hard to ensure these hydrants are operational.
While the damage to the hydrant on McKinley is unknown, it could have been from a wide variety of causes. The Water Department was notified of this hydrant being out of service and since that time is now operational and in service. Currently the City has only one fire hydrant out of service, and crews are working to get that hydrant in service. It is important to note that even with multiple crews checking, and correcting hydrant issues as they arise, things can happen that are out of our control and unknown.
If anyone sees an issue with a hydrant, I urge you to contact the Fire Department so it can be checked and fixed.
The City of Batavia Fire Department was assisted by the City of Batavia Police, Water Department, Codes Department and DPW, as well as the Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center, the Town of Batavia Fire Department, the Elba Fire Department, Oakfield Fire Department, Stafford Fire Department, Leroy Fire Department, Mercy EMS, Genesee County Office of Emergency Management, Bergen Deputy Chief Garrett Dean, National Fuel, National Grid and the Salvation Army. Special thanks to Assistant City Manager Erik Fix and DPW Director Brett Frank for responding to assist and provide refreshments for responders.
File Photo of Batavia City Fire Chief Josh Graham, left, City Councilman David Twichell and DPW Director Brett Frank during a budget session at City Hall. Photo by Joanne Beck
Wednesday’s city budget session was fairly short and sweet compared to a recent meeting — as City Fire Chief Josh Graham laid out his department's stats and recent insurance rating for a subdued City Council — and the group continued its way through a proposed $37 million financial plan at City Hall.
Graham explained his $4,696,860 2025 proposed budget, an increase of $286,583 from the 2024 adopted budget.
Of the 2,653 incidents to occur in 2023, nearly 68 percent of the call volume involved emergency medical services, Graham said. The department has experienced a 57.5 percent increase in call volume over the last 13 years, from 2010 to 2023, with the same number of 36 firefighters, he said, and six out of eight officers are eligible for retirement or will be within the next two years.
As for personnel, he told council to keep in mind that there may be two firefighters “that we have to push through the academy,” and retirement costs added an extra $140,000 to the budget.
Three new members joined the department in 2023, and it requested mutual aid a dozen times that year, three times less than called upon for mutual aid, responding 15 times.
He pointed out the length of careers for the entire team, with a fairly even split among those firefighters attwo years and less, three to 10 years and 11 years or more.
“So if you wanted to look at the actual numbers from 2010, all the way up to 2023, you can pretty much see the line that goes across there, with 2020 being that dip during COVID. Obviously, the run numbers went down the next page just shows the career lengths, which I thought was kind of interesting because we're right at about one-third, one-third and one-third,” he said. “We're pretty green for our fire department, but because we have such a stellar staff of officers and those mid-level senior firefighters, it all worked out pretty much 33 percent right across the board.”
So what does the city fire department do? Emergency medical services, fire suppression, motor vehicle accidents, hazmat, ice and swift water, rope and confined space rescues; firefighter assist and search team; fire prevention and fire extinguisher training; building inspection/code enforcement; car seat checks and installations; community service events/standby; emergency medical technician and related training; fire investigations; smoke and carbon monoxide detector installations.
August was the busiest month in 2023, at 249 calls, with May and November tying for the lowest calls of 193. Firefighters apparently could get some sleep between 3 to 4 a.m., since that was the least busy time, at 44 calls, but not at 10 a.m., when activity reached its peak at 163 calls, still lingering at 161 calls between 11 a.m. and noon.
The department responded to 63 structure fires, 80 motor vehicle accidents, 351 alarms, 85 hazardous conditions, 108 service calls, and 1,804 needs for emergency medical services.
The department arrived on scene within six minutes, 90 percent of the time, with an average response of less than four minutes. A response time of 10 to 11 minutes occurred in 19 percent of the calls, while nearly half of them were between three and five minutes.
His wish list includes a replacement of portable radios and pagers, which would cost $200,000 if purchased all at once. However, he suggested an $8,700 increase to the communications budget line to purchase or fix those pieces of equipment. Pagers are used to notify off-duty staff for recall, and the radios were last purchased with a grant through the county around 2015-16, he said.
“We were hoping that there would be another grant and we could start replacing the radios, but that's not coming to fruition. So in order to replace the entirety of our radios, you're looking at just short of $200,000. So this is an attempt to try to start cycling those out, as opposed to replacing them all at the same time,” Graham said. “They are just aging out. They may be broken … so if they do break, and the radio costs, you know, $2,000 to fix it, but it's $4,000 for a radio, do you pay the $2,000 to fix it? Or do you get the three newer versions for $4,000?”
He said that video lottery terminal funds could be used to replace 10 portable radios, “and will get us well on our way to replacing them.”
The department already received its Christmas present: a nearly $800,000 fire engine that, with assistance from grant funds, will gradually be paid off over the next two decades in debt service payments. It’s that apparatus and all else owned by Batavia, and the number of staff that went into account for its public classification insurance ranking of “03,” which means the city is “considered highly protected,” Graham said.
Per a letter sent to the city, this ranking is important to communities and fire departments because, as the rating improves, those communities “may get lower insurance prices.”
When asked by a council member how a department earns a “2” or a “1,” Graham said the top number is extremely hard to get, and it takes “high dollar things to improve the three rating,” he said.
There are 31,867 departments at a four or worse, he said.
City police and firefighters responded to a two-car accident around 7:15 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of North Street and Vine Street. Police reported that a dark blue Chevrolet sedan was heading east on North Street and was almost through the intersection when it collided with a light blue Bronco SUV, which had been traveling north on Vine Street. The driver of the Bronco reportedly suffered a minor arm injury and was transported from the scene by ambulance. Photo by Mike Pettinella.
Every year the City of Batavia Fire Department spreads the word in town, and throughout our schools and community about fire prevention.
Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of Oct. 9 in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on Oct. 8, 1871. This horrific fire killed more than 250 people and destroyed more than 17,400 structures leaving more than 100,000 people homeless.
This year the City of Batavia Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — The official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 100 years — to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Cooking Safety Starts with YOU! Pay attention to fire prevention” as the theme for Fire Prevention Week™, Oct. 8-14.
This year’s focus on cooking safety works to educate the public about simple but important steps they can take to help reduce the risk of fire when cooking at home, keeping themselves and those around them safe. Did you know that cooking fires are the leading cause of home fire and home fire injuries?
According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of a home fire, with nearly half (49 percent) of all home fires involving cooking equipment, cooking is also the leading cause of home fire injuries. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires and related deaths.
These numbers tell us that more public awareness is needed around when and where cooking hazards exist, along with ways to prevent them. This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign “Cooking Safety Starts with You! Pay attention to fire prevention”, the City of Batavia Fire Department will work to promote tips, guidelines, and recommendations that can help significantly reduce the risk of having a cooking fire.
The City of Batavia Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme.
“Cooking Safety starts with YOU! Pay attention to fire prevention”.
The City of Batavia Fire Department wants to share the following cooking safety messages that support this year’s theme.
Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. For foods with longer cooking times, such as those simmering or baking, set a timer to help monitor them carefully.
Clear the cooking area of combustible items and keep anything that can burn, such as dish towels, oven mitts, food packaging, and paper towels away from the cooking area.
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
Create a “kid and pet-free zone” of at least three feet around the cooking area and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
As the biggest annual campaign at NFPA, Fire Prevention Week works to educate people about the leading risks to home fires and ways they can better protect themselves and their loved ones. Local fire departments play a key role in bringing Fire Prevention Week to life in their communities each year and spreading basic but critical fire safety messages.
To learn more about Fire Prevention Week, its 100th anniversary, and this year’s theme, “Cooking Safety starts with YOU! Pay attention to fire prevention.” visit www.nfpa.org/fpw.
The City of Batavia Fire Department is hosting a series of events in support of this year’s Fire Prevention Week; including stops at Batavia schools, housing units, and the library.
The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flow-testing fire hydrants on Thursday, Oct. 5 from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This will affect the entire city. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about 5 minutes or until clear.
This annual testing is essential to maintain the community class III Insurance Services Office (ISO) public protection classification and to assure that fire hydrants are operating efficiently for fire protection purposes. Along with maintaining the fire rating, the test monitors the health of the city's water system, identifies weak areas in the system, and removes material that settles in the water lines. Checking each hydrant improves fire department personnel's knowledge of the hydrant locations.
If you have any questions or should notice a hydrant in need of repair, please contact the fire department at 585-345-6375.
The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Tuesday, August 29, and Wednesday, August 30 from approximately 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the general area of South of E. Main St. and West of Jackson St.
Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about 5 minutes or until clear.
This annual testing is essential to maintain the communities' class III Insurance Services Office (ISO) public protection classification and to assure that fire hydrants are operating efficiently for fire protection purposes.
Along with maintaining the fire rating, the test monitors the health of the city's water system, identifies weak areas in the system, and removes material that settles in the water lines. Checking each hydrant improves fire department personnel's knowledge of the hydrant locations.
If you have any questions or should notice a hydrant in need of repair, please contact the fire department at 585-345-6375.
After numerous responses to mulch fires recently, the City of Batavia Fire Department reminds residents to use some caution and common sense when it comes to landscaping mulch. Each year during the spring and summer months, hundreds of mulch fires are reported across the nation. These fires start out small and undetected, but can eventually grow into a devastating fire, causing major damage to buildings, homes, and other structures.
Typically, mulch that is piled too deeply, more than a few inches, can build up heat and spontaneously catch fire. As the fire starts in the landscaping mulch, it quickly spreads into the shrubbery and then into the home or building. Other contributing factors include below-average rainfall, extremely dry conditions, warm weather, and abnormal winds.
Another, common cause of mulch fire is human carelessness through the discarding of smoking products. Cigarette and cigar smokers often discard lighted smoking materials, including matches, into the landscaped areas as they enter and/or exit a building. So, please take extra precautions when smoking around landscaping beds.
To help prevent a mulch fire, please follow these safety tips:
Become aware of this fire safety problem and use smoking materials responsibly. Use only approved receptacles for matches, cigarettes, and cigars.
Recognize that hot and dry spells allow mulch fires to start more readily.
Report any smoke or fire in a mulch bed via 9-1-1.
Maintain at least 18 inches of clearance between the edge of the mulch bed and combustible building materials, such as exterior vinyl siding and decks.
Keep mulch beds as moist as possible.
If you have any questions, please contact the fire department at 585-345-6375.
The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Thursday from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the general area of South of E. Main St. and East of Jackson St.
Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about 5 minutes or until clear.
This annual testing is essential to maintain the communities class III Insurance Services Office (ISO) public protection classification, and to assure that fire hydrants are operating efficiently for fire protection purposes. Along with maintaining the fire rating, the test monitors the health of the city's water system, identifies weak areas in the system, and removes material that settle in the water lines.
Checking each hydrant improves fire department personnel knowledge of the hydrant locations.
If you have any questions, or should notice a hydrant in need of repair, please contact the fire department at 585-345-6375.
The City of Batavia Fire Department is proud to announce our new Fire Department Chaplain, Deacon Dave Erhart of Le Roy.
Deacon Dave comes to us with an impressive resume, including 40 years of fire service experience with the Le Roy Fire Department as both a firefighter and Chaplain. He is currently serving as a Deacon with Our Lady of Mercy Church in Le Roy.
He received Fire Chaplain training at the New York State Fire Academy in Montour Falls and is a member of the New York State Order of Chaplains.
Fire Chaplains provide a valuable service to the Fire Department members and their families. We look forward to this partnership and are fortunate to have a local resource available with such experience.
