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Grease fire in kitchen on Liberty Street in the city

By Billie Owens

A grease fire in the kitchen of an upper apartment is reported at 134 Liberty St. City of Batavia firefighters are responding.

UPDATE 6:20 p.m.: Responder on scene reports nothing showing. "No fire at this time."

Small fire in Pembroke

By Billie Owens

A "small, smouldering" fire is reported north of property at 2533 Brown Road in Pembroke. East Pembroke Fire Department is reponding.

Photos: Fire-damaged house on Harvester knocked down

By Howard B. Owens

What was once the home to a father, mother and their six children on Harvester Avenue was reduced to rubble Tuesday morning.

The house was badly damaged in a fire Sunday afternoon that started after one of the children was reportedly playing with a lighter in a back bedroom.

The family lost almost all of their belongings.

Owner and landlord Andy Young said the structure was insured. He doesn't have plans to rebuild on the property at 23 Harvester Ave.

House fire on Harvester Avenue in the city

By Billie Owens

A house fire is reported at 23 Harvester Ave. in the City of Batavia. Everyone has been evacuated. A State Trooper on scene reports smoke and flames are showing. City Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 1:53 p.m.: Everyone who was inside has been accounted for. The second and fourth platoons are called in. The fire began in the back bedroom of the wood-framed house. City firefighters have a convenient water hydrant nearby.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m.: There is "heavy fire" inside the structure says the chief.

UPDATE 2:10 p.m.: A responder (but not the chief) asks dispatch if a police officer can come to the scene and he's told that two are already there. But they're handling traffic, he says, and he needs someone to talk with the family. The family has information that "this is arson." An officer is responding to speak with the family.

UPDATE 2:39 p.m.: National Grid is called to the scene. No ETA given. Firefighters are continuing to battle the blaze. The American Red Cross is being contacted and will need to provide assistance to two adults and six children who have been rendered homeless by the fire.

UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: The Red Cross estimates it will be at the scene in about a half hour.

UPDATE 2:52 p.m.: National Grid is on location.

UPDATE 3:43 p.m.: The home is a total loss, according to a statement made by city fire Chief James Maxwell to WTBA's Dan Fischer, who was at the scene. Although the investigation is continuing, the initial indication is that the fire was started in a rear bedroom by a child playing with a lighter, Maxwell told Fischer.

UPDATE 4:25 p.m.: City firefighters are back in service.

UPDATE 4:55 p.m.: Harvester Avenue is open to traffic now.

Photos by Dan Fischer, WBTA.

No injuries, but morning fire guts the home of a family in Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

When Pete Tucci heard his dogs barking around 8:15 a.m., he thought he better take a look out his back window.

"It was like the sun had landed in my back yard," Tucci said, describing the big balls of flame bursting from the rear of his neighbor's house at 7167 W. Main St. Road, Le Roy.

"I went out my back door and I could feel the heat, like an octopus all around me, and there were huge flames, just a big blasts of flames," Tucci said.

Tucci was concerned that his neighbor and friend, Chuck Lathan, whose truck was still in the driveway, was trapped inside.

Le Roy Police Officer Daryl Robb knocked down the front door, but heat and smoke beat him back and he wasn't able to get into the house.

"It was just too thick to get inside," Robb said, adding, "If you don't try, you'll always second guess yourself."

Fortunately, Lathan wasn't inside. He recently started working day shifts, so he was at work, as was his wife, something Genesee County emergency dispatchers confirmed early in the fire.

Le Roy Fire, aided by Bergen, Stafford, Pavilion and Caledonia responded quickly to the fire once reported. (Churchville filled in at Le Roy's hall.)

Tucci said Stafford firefighters started spraying down his house to protect it from the fire as soon as they arrived on scene.

"They did a great job saving my house," Tucci said.

The cause and origin of the fire is yet to be determined, but early indications, an investigator said, are it started around the wood-burning stove in the house. 

The house is a complete loss, and possibly all seven cats owned by the Lathans perished in the fire.

"Chuck and Ellie are such great neighbors," Tucci said. "They're really sweet people, and they lost everything."

(Initial Report (including video))

If the slide show doesn't work right for you, click here.

House fire on West Main Road, Le Roy

By Billie Owens

A structure fire is reported at 7180 7167 W. Main St. Road just outside the Village of Le Roy. A Sheriff's deputy on scene said "It's going pretty good." All traffic is to be shut down. A neighbor tells an officer that a person may still be inside. Le Roy Fire Department is responding along with mutual aid from Pavilion, Stafford, Bergen and the Town of Batavia Fast Team.

UPDATE 8:41 a.m.: Caledonia is en route with five firefighters and they are directed to the scene.

UPDATE 8:45 a.m.: There is confirmation that no one is still inside the structure.

UPDATE 9:29 a.m.: The home, which is completely destroyed, is owned by Chuck Lathan. Seven cats perished inside. A wood stove is believed to have started the fire. A state trooper who was one of the first on scene said smoke was pouring from the chimney before the structure caught fire.

UPDATE 9:38 a.m.: The Le Roy fire chief reports the blaze is out and now crews are overhauling the scene.

UPDATE 11:31 a.m.: Video submitted by Charlie Maniscaclo, owner of Scooter's in Le Roy.

Salvation Army store evacuated, possible fire reported

By Billie Owens

The Salvation Army thrift store at 19 Jackson St. in Batavia reportedly smells like smoke and it is being evacuated. The city fire department is on scene and reports nothing showing, but it is investigating.

Pardon me, but your meatballs are burning

By Billie Owens

Yet another false alarm of fire at College Village prompted two Town of Batavia fire engines to the scene. They found burnt food in one of the apartments. Well, burnt meatballs actually.

"The report should include meatballs," says a responder.

"What? Meatballs?" comes the reply.

"Yes, that would be meatballs."

"How do you burn meatballs?"

(But then again, when College Village occupants have been known to burn anything burnable, why not meatballs?)

"...I shouldn't be surprised," concludes the fireman.

Fire reported near woods off Big Tree Road, Pavilion

By Billie Owens

A large plume of black smoke is reported across from 7653 Big Tree Road, near South Street Road. It is at the tree line at the back of the property and may be a controlled burn. It is believed to be tires burning. Pavilion Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 12:36 p.m.: The property owners are burning a bunch of brush and are keeping a close eye on it, said a firefighter on scene. Pavilion assignment is back in service.

Fire in basement in Le Roy reported, believed out

By Howard B. Owens

A fire in a basement has been reported at 40 48 North St., Le Roy.

The caller believes the fire is out.

Le Roy Fire Department along with a ladder truck from Bergen dispatched, along with Le Roy Ambulance.

UPDATE 4:22 p.m.: Chief on scene. One engine from Le Roy requested, non-emergency. Bergen response is cancelled.


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Possible fire turned out to be 'homeowner using a fog machine'

By Howard B. Owens

Town of Batavia Fire Department was dispatched to the report of an unknown type fire at the end of Briarwood Terrace.

As Engine 21 was rolling on the call, an assistant chief arrived on scene and reported that Engine 21 could stand down.

"The homeowner is operating a fog machine," reported the chief.

"Copy," said a dispatcher, "homeowner operating a fog machine."

Second dispatcher: "That's got to be a first."

Town of Batavia fire, back in service.


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Possible fire in elevator shaft on East Main Road, Le Roy

By Billie Owens

Smoke is reportedly coming from an elevator shaft at 7758 E. Main Road in Le Roy. Le Roy Fire and Ambulance Service and a ladder truck from Bergen are responding.

UPDATE 5:39 p.m.: A unit from Pavilion is requested to fill in at Le Roy's fire hall. The scene of the possible fire is referred to as Mercy Grove.

UPDATE 5:58 p.m.: A check from the rooftop found nothing of concern. The firefighters don't have access to the shaft itself. They are now checking the basement.

UPDATE 6:01 p.m.: Power to the elevator was shut off briefly. They are going to turn it back on to see if they can locate any problems.

UPDATE 6:05 p.m.: Firefighters are informed that all motors to operate the elevator are on the third floor. There is a means for them to view inside the shaft. After power is restored, they plan to use a thermal imaging camera to detect heat.

UPDATE 6:12 p.m.: They have determined that there is an electrical problem and soon an electrician will be working to solve it. Pavilion is released from standby duty.

Smoke reported coming from house on Walnut Street in the city

By Billie Owens

A passerby reported seeing smoke coming from the second-story window of a white house on Walnut Street in the City of Batavia. No numerics were given. The location was described as being on the "east side of the road, just south of the bend." Firefighters checked the area and initially reported finding nothing. A moment later they reported smoke coming from a vent.

Possible fire in the wall at a residence on Central Avenue

By Howard B. Owens

A possible fire in the wall has been reported at 17 1/2 Central Ave., Batavia.

City of Batavia Fire Department responding.

UPDATE 10:31 p.m.: City firefighters on scene. Nothing showing. It's a two-story, wood-frame structure.

UPDATE 10:33 p.m.: Possible short in an electrical outlet. Firefighters opening up the wall to check for extension.

UPDATE 10:35 p.m.: Wall opened, no fire.

UPDATE 10:49 p.m.: Power shut off at 17 1/2 Central Ave. The residents are getting a few things and will stay at a neighbor's. Residents advised to contact the landlord. City fire back in service.


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Controlled burn reportedly out of control in the city

By Billie Owens

A controlled trash burn reported earlier this evening may have gotten out of control, according to a caller to dispatch. The location is in the area of 12 Trumbull Parkway in the City of Batavia.

City firefighters are responding.

Apparently, there was nothing of consequence found at the site of the reported controlled burn. City firefighters are back in service.

Photos: Propane fire training for Byron and South Byron

By Howard B. Owens

Charles Durkee provided photos from Saturday's training for the Byron and South Byron fire departments. Here's what he said about it:

On Saturday between the hours of 8 a.m. and noon, the Byron Fire Department hosted live fire training for their members and members of South Byron. The training was also held for members of the rescue squad as the firemen acted out burn injuries and frost injuries from the liquid propane. The training was very intense and and made the firemen realize that it's a lot harder to move in safely on a big ball of flames and try to shut down the system.

Chimney fire reported in Alabama

By Howard B. Owens

A chimney fire is reported at 7392 Alleghany Road, Alabama.

An Alabama chief is on scene and may have discovered the fire.

Alabama fire units responding.

UPDATE 1:17 p.m.: Chief on scene believes he's got the fire knocked down. Alabama engines in route.

UPDATE 1:27 p.m.: Alabama fire back in service.


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Fire alarm sounding at Presbyterian Church of Corfu

By Billie Owens

Corfu and Darien fire departments are responding to a fire alarm at the Presbyterian Church of Corfu, located at 63 Allegany Road.

The alarm is indicating a problem in the basement, bathroom and pantry.

UPDATE 7:48 a.m.: Darien is told to stand down. The Corfu unit is held to one unit.

UPDATE 7:50 a.m.: The chief says "It was just burnt turkey. Corfu returning, in service."

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