A possible brush fire has been reported in the area of Route 5 and Lovers Lane Road, near the Thruway overpass, Pembroke.
East Pembroke and Indian Falls fire have been dispatched.
UPDATE 4:46 p.m.: Address now given as 717 Route 5, across from Pembroke Bait and Tackle.
UPDATE 4:56 p.m.: Alabama is being dispatched for additional manpower. The Akron brush truck has been requested. The fire is reportedly not near a structure, but moving toward a structure.
At 230 Ellicott Street, there is a vacant lot, but it's more than just an unsightly gap between two commercial buildings. It also represents unfinished business.
Richard Borrell, owner of Borrell Fitness, right next door, figures the fire that destroyed Cristina's Restaurant on July 12, 2008, has cost or will cost him from $340,000 to $375,000.
So far, neither Charles Brumsted Jr., Cristina's owner, nor Brumsted's insurance company, Mid-State Mutual Insurance, have reimbursed Borrell for his losses.
Borrell said he's retained a lawyer out of Buffalo and said a lawsuit was filed last week on his behalf, but the suit is not on file with the Genesee County Clerk. The Batavian has called the law office of Eugene C. Tenney seven or eight times since last Thursday, where receptionists say Edward J. Schwendler, III, is handling the case, but Schwendler has returned none of the calls.
It's unclear if Brumsted -- we couldn't find contact information for him -- settled his claim against Mid-State.
An attorney for Brumsted, Charles Ritter, of Buffalo, filed a lawsuit May 18, 2009, against Mid-State, alleging that Mid-State had failed to honor the contractual terms of its insurance policy. Brumsted sought at least $1.5 million in damages, which included a $375,000 claim by Borrell.
In the filing, Brumsted claims that Mid-State representatives indicated he would have no trouble collecting on his insurance claim and that he would be able to reopen for business by Spring of 2008.
On Dec 3, 2009, Ritter and Mid-State's attorney, Joseph Rizzo, of Rochester, signed a "stipulation of discontinuance." The short document is ambiguous on whether this constituted a settlement of Brumsted's claims and contains no details on whether Brumsted received any payment from Mid-State.
Neither Ritter nor Rizzo returned calls placed today.
Mid-State has also not returned a phone call seeking more information about Cristina's.
Borrell is unsure why Mid-State has not settled with him and preferred not to comment in detail about his legal situation. He said his building suffered extensive fire and water damage. The floors on the second floor are warped, the bricks and mortar on the outside of the building were heavily damaged, he suffered water damage to equipment and his HVAC system.
The cause of the fire has never been determined. Captain Michael B. Drew of the City of Batavia Fire Department issued a report following a thorough investigation July 12, 2008.
While the investigation team was able to eliminate many accidental hazards, it was not able to eliminate all hazards, namely electrical wiring or equipment malfunction.
In addition, the investigation team was unable to eliminate the possibility that the fire cause may have been other than accidental and is therefore undetermined at this time.
Drew's report says the fire started in the area of the central stairway.
A possible accidental cause that was not ruled out was a malfunction in a electrical junction box on the east wall of the basement. Damage to the box, which included a hole burnt through the cover, could not have been done by an external fire source, Drew wrote.
At the same time, given the location of the box and the location of the fire origin, that junction box could not conclusively be ruled as causing the fire.
In interviews with investigators, Brumsted said he had electrical problems with a fan and was bringing an electrician to fix it. "Fire damage to this unit was noted to be inconclusive with its direct involvement in the fire's ignition," Drew wrote.
Brumsted said the building had been up for sale since 2001. He also said he was seeking a demolition permit for the restaurant portion of the building.
In 2000, news reports said Brumsted was planning to convert the building into office space.
Cristina's was named after Brumsted's aunt, Cristina Meleca, who crafted some Italian recipes for the restaurant. Cristina Meleca died in 1995 at age 95. Brumsted purchased the restaurant from his uncle, Frank Meleca, in 1985.
A car is reportedly on fire in the eastbound lane of the Thruway around mile marker 388.
Town of Batavia fire is being dispatched.
The dispatch center has received multiple calls.
UPDATE 3:39 p.m.: A firefighter responding said the smoke can be seen from Bank Street. "It must be going pretty good," he said.
UPDATE 4:12 p.m.: Fire crews are picking up and the Thruway is being reopened.
UPDATE 4:19 p.m.: Town of Batavia Fire back in service.
Fire units from Genesee County are being dispatched to a structure fire in Wyoming County, or being put on standby at fire halls in both Wyoming and Genesee counties.
The fire is reported at 3930 E. Main Road, Attica, Wyoming County.
Pavillion, Darien, Bethany, Alexander and Town of Batavia, at least, have either been requested to the scene or are on standby.
Jay Lynch, a former volunteer firefighter who now serves as the authorized photographer for fire services in Genesee and Livingston counties just supplied The Batavian with this collection of photos from this morning's fire at Hanson Aggregates in Pavilion.
More photos after the jump:
(Updated at 8:50 a.m.)
As many as 12 fire companies were called to Hanson Aggregates in Pavilion this morning for a fire in a structure at the back part of the facility.
The cause or origin of the fire has not been determined yet, according to Pavilion Fire Chief Paul Dougherty, who said the fire was contained to a single structure.
That structure was a sandblasting facility used to clean trucks and equipment.
"Our firefighters arrived and found the building at the rear of the facility with smoke and flames showing," Dougherty said.
The fire was difficult to fight, according to Dougherty, because it was a significant way from the road, past two driveways and there was a good deal of heavy equipment parked in the area.
"The big issue was getting water to the location because we couldn't get a lot of equipment back there," he said.
The original call came in sometime between 5:15 and 5:30 a.m.
"There was a lot of smoke," Dougherty said. "It's a wood-frame structure with metal siding. There wasn't a lot inside to burn and the fire was contained to the structure."
Hanson is a multinational conglomerate based in Europe. Its Pavilion facility provides asphalt and concrete for local construction projects.
There is no estimate yet on the dollar value of the damage and the cause is under investigation.
"Until we get into the building and interview some of their people and ask them what the recent history of the building has been, we won't know (the cause)," the chief said.
NOTE: Photos from the scene are limited because Hanson employees would not allow The Batavian back to the area of the fire to take pictures.
A fully involved car fire has been reported on Park Avenue near Judge Road in Oakfield.
Oakfield Fire is responding.
Robert Griffin said he was leaving the Dollar General about 3:45 p.m. when he heard a pop and then smoke started billowing out from under the hood of his car.
City Fire responded and quickly doused the small fire.
An engine fire was reported on the Thruway at mile marker 395 in the eastbound lane. East Pembroke has been asked to assist.
UPDATE: 7:49am - Fire has been extinguished.
UPDATE: 7:59am - East Pembroke is to wait at the gate, but not to enter the Thruway.
UPDATE: 8:06am - Tow truck has been called and should be arriving soon (I'm assuming East Pembroke was asked to stand down already and I missed it).
A chimney fire, with fire outside the chimney, has been reported at 1840 Lewiston Road, Basom.
Alabama Fire has been dispatched. Oakfield is being asked to standby at the Alabama Fire Hall.
UPDATE 11:33 p.m.: A chief reports no flames showing.
UPDATE 12:18 am.: "Chimney clear. Fire out."
UPDATE 12:33 a.m.: All Alabama units back in service.
A small, unattended grass fire has been reported in the area of 9754 Transit Road.
The call was initially sent to Stafford Fire, but the fire may actually be on the other side of the road, in Bethany's district, so Bethany Fire has been asked to respond as well.
UPDATE 2:53 p.m.: A chief on scene has confirmed it's Stafford district.
UPDATE 3:00 p.m.: Now they say it's in the Bethany district.
A "rather large fire" has been reported in the area of Merriman and Cook roads in Byron.
Byron Fire has responded and Elba Fire is providing mutual aide. It's unclear at this time what type of fire it is.
UPDATE 8:51 p.m.: The property owner has been located and he said this is a controlled burn. There is still some concern that some piles are burning close to a wooded area. Firefighters continue to respond.
UPDATE 10:14 p.m.: This remains a working incident.
UPDATE 10:41 p.m.: Bryon chief just said, "let's pack up and go home."
Indian Falls and Pembroke Fire are responding to the report of a wire down in the area of 1448 Indian Falls Road.
It has caused, reportedly, a very small grass fire.
Stafford Fire is being asked to respond to a large controlled burn at 6002 Griswold Road that needs to be extinguished.
Law enforcement is also being dispatched. The fire may be outside of new controlled burn regulations.
Stafford units are responding Code 2.
10:02 p.m.: Stafford units being put back in service.
10:20 p.m.: The pile of wood (possibly an old barn) would take significant manpower to extinguish, so an assistant fire chief and a DEC officer have advised the land owner he will need to watch the burn all night. All remaining Stafford personnel back in service.
All equipment has been requested to respond to a possible chimney fire at 5500 Broadway (Route 20) in East Bethany.
Bethany Fire has been dispatched.
UPDATE 7:30 a.m.: Alexander Fire responding mutual aid. The caller indicates seeing sparks. There is apparently a wooden bridge on the driveway that will prevent heavy equipment from driving up directly to the house.
UPDATE 7:41 a.m.: Several units on scene. Hand tools requested to possibly open a wall. No word yet on extent of the possible fire.
UPDATE 8:00 a.m.: Firefighters can see some coals somewhere down the chimney, but no flames reported.
UPDATE 8:08 a.m.: Some units being put back in service.
UPDATE 8:12 a.m.: "Everything is out and cleaned up." Bethany back in service.
A car engine is reportedly smoking on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 389.2 in the eastbound lane.
Town of Batavia Fire has been dispatched.
A chimney fire has been reported at 883 Silver Lake Road, Pavilion.
Pavilion Fire has been dispatched.
UPDATE 11:29 p.m.: Heat seems primarily at the top of the chimney.
A caller is reporting smoke coming from house fixture at a residence on 11 Buffalo St., Bergen.
Bergen Fire, a ladder truck from Le Roy and Churchville Fire are being dispatched.
UPDATE 2:14 p.m.: An assistant chief on scene reports, "Nothing showing."
UPDATE 2:18 p.m.: All residents are out of the building. No determination yet on the nature or extent of the fire.
UPDATE 2:25 p.m.: An interior firefighter reports it appeared to be "a small partition fire." The fire appears to be out. They're not checking for extensions.
UPDATE 2:28 p.m.: Command reports still some smoke coming from a window. An interior firefighter said it was a small fire, but produced a lot of smoke.
Sparks and flashes are reported coming from a residence in the Dreamland Trailer Park, 3522 W. Main St. Road, West Batavia.
The house is described as a white house with a fence.
East Pembroke Fire is responding.
An assistant fire chief on location, "nothing showing."
He reports the house to respond to is the main house in Dreamland.
He reports wires on a pole crackling, but nothing in the house. "I don't see anything, but I can hear it out here."
UPDATE 9:20 p.m.: Wires are reportedly arcing. National Grid requested to the scene. A standby from Corfu has been request to go to the East Pembroke Hall. Town of Batavia also requested to stand by.
UPDATE 10:02 p.m.: Town of Batavia told to stand down.
A possible structure fire is reported at 61 East Main St. in the Village of Corfu. Corfu fire is responding, others are standing by.
UPDATE 4:20 p.m.: All other departments but Corfu are asked to stand down. Apparently this was a dryer fire at a house. A firefighter reports: "The dryer is out of the house, checking the extension."
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