Bloss Street house destroyed by fire
April 3, 2008

A two-story home on Bloss Street likely will be torn down by the end of the week after sustaining heavy fire damage last night, according to the Rochester Fire Department.

Firefighters were called to 85 Bloss St. yesterday about 6:50 p.m. The second floor of the house was consumed in heavy flames and smoke, temporary Deputy Chief John Kearney said.

It was initially reported that a woman was trapped in the house, but firefighters discovered later that no one was inside, Kearney said. There were no injuries.

The fire was under control in about 50 minutes, Kearney said.

The single-family home sustained extensive fire damage and water damage, he said. It appeared that the blaze started on the second floor. He said the house is expected to be demolished by the end of the week.

Authorities are investigating to determine the cause.

The American Red Cross of Greater Rochester said it is providing shelter, food and clothing to two adults.

City firefighters battle blaze near elementary school
April 1, 2008

Rochester firefighters this morning battled a fire in northwest Rochester.

Firefighters were called to the corner of Lyell Avenue and Mt. Read Boulevard about 6:40 a.m., where it was reported a large outdoor fire was burning behind a building near the intersection, according to Monroe County emergency dispatchers. The fire was reportedly under control in about 20 minutes.

No injuries were reported, dispatchers said.

School 43, an elementary school in the City School District, is located on the southwest corner of the intersection. The blaze did not appear to affect the school, dispatchers said.

Further details of the incident were not immediately available.

Apartment building demolished following fire
March 31, 2008


Emergency demolition crews early today tore down a six-apartment building on Lake Avenue, after a raging two-alarm fire caused significant structural damage.

Deputy Chief Martin McMillan of the Rochester Fire Department today said firefighters were called to 519 Lake Ave. about 11 p.m. As firefighters arrived at the scene, they saw a heavy volume of fire coming from all three floors of the structure, he said.

Although it appeared people were living in the building as recently as last week, McMillan said the structure was vacant. Firefighters initially believed that people were trapped in the building, but after a search, no one was located.

One firefighter, however, became disoriented on the second floor and was pulled out by a rescue team, McMillan said. He was not injured, but was evaluated at the scene and remained on duty, McMillan said.

The blaze was considered under control at 1:48 a.m. The structure sustained “a tremendous amount of fire damage,” and was demolished before sunrise due to the instability of the building, McMillan said.

Firefighters today are investigating the blaze, to determine the cause.

Man rescued from burning house
March 25, 2008

City firefighters early today rescued a man from the smoky attic of a burning house in southwest Rochester.

Deputy Chief Bill Curran of the Rochester Fire Department said that 69-year-old man, whose name was not released, suffered second-degree burns to his face and hands. He was also suffering from respiratory problems due to smoke inhalation.

The victim was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital for treatment, and was in serious condition, Curran said.

Firefighters were called to 44 Lenox St. about 3:10 a.m. They controlled the fire in the 2 ½-story single-family house in about five minutes.

Curran said the blaze was sparked by a space heater located next to a bed in the unfinished attic, which apparently doubled as a bedroom for the man.

Capt. John Whitehair and firefighter Michael Chilano were the first two firefighters to make it to the attic.

“Myself and Mike Chilano advanced a line to the attic,” Whitehair said. “Chilano started attacking the fire while I did a search of the interior of the attic. It wasn't more than five to 10 seconds after the search commenced; I found the victim face down in the rear of the attic.”

A charred mattress was in the front portion of the attic, Curran said.

“We figure he was sleeping on a mattress in the front portion and he woke and tried to escape,” Curran said.

Whitehair said he brought the victim down the stairs of the house and handed off to members of the Quint 5 team that were just reaching the second floor. The man was unconscious and in difficult circumstances when Whitehair found him, he said.

Curran said several other family members were in the house when the fire started. They told firefighters that they knew the man, their uncle, was in the attic, but they could not reach him because of heavy smoke in the structure.

Those family members called 911 and had escaped safely by the time firefighters arrived.

The attic sustained moderate fire, smoke and water damage, Curran said.

The American Red Cross of Greater Rochester today is assisting the family.

Man accused of setting fire at estranged wife's home
March 24, 2008 

A man accused of setting a fire that heavily damaged his estranged family's home this weekend pleaded not guilty in City Court today.

Christopher S. Culver Sr., 38, was charged with second-degree arson and first-degree criminal contempt, both felonies, according to City Court records.

Firefighters were called to 27 Oakman St. at 12:32 a.m. yesterday March 23 to battle the blaze. Upon arrival, firefighters noted heavy black smoke rising from the two-story house, said Deputy Chief Bill Curran of the Rochester Fire Department.

Firefighters saw Culver standing on the front porch roof of the burning structure and attempted to rescue him, Curran said. Twice, Culver allegedly pushed away a rescue ladder offered by firefighters, Curran said.

Culver later jumped from the roof to a parked car as firefighters tried to talk him down, Curran said. He was reportedly unconscious for a moment after the fall.

According to City Court records, Culver is accused of breaking into the home of his estranged wife. He allegedly doused the interior of the house with gasoline and set a fire, according to court documents.

According to court records, his estranged wife and children woke up after he entered the house. While inside, Culver allegedly told his son to get his two younger sisters and leave, according to court records.

Culver is accused of trying to keep his estranged wife in the house while starting the fire. Firefighters said the woman and the children all escaped safely before firefighters arrived at the scene.

Conditions deteriorated quickly and firefighters had to evacuate the building to battle the blaze from outside, Curran said. The fire was under control by 1:17 a.m.

The house sustained heavy fire damage and is no longer livable. A woman and three children were displaced and were being assisted by the American Red Cross of Greater Rochester, Curran said.

One firefighter reportedly sustained a leg injury.

Culver today was remanded to the Monroe County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $30,000 bond, according to City Court records. He is slated to return to court Friday at 11 a.m. for a preliminary hearing.

Fire displaces 4, may have been purposely set
March 23, 2008

The Rochester Fire Department is investigating a house fire that occurred early Sunday morning and displaced an adult and three children from their east side home.

Deputy Chief Martin McMillan said the department received a call for a house fire at 27 Oakman Street at 12:32 a.m. When fire fighters arrived on-scene the fire was “pretty well involved.” The fire was under control by 1:17 a.m.

The fire is believed to have been intentionally set, however, it is still under investigation. McMillan did not comment on possible suspects.

The American Red Cross assisted the family that was displaced by the fire, McMillan said. One firefighter sustained a leg injury during the incident.

Spencer Street house has more carbon monoxide problems
March 21, 2008

Battalion Chief John Kearney of the Rochester Fire Department said a house at 238 Spencer Street in the city recorded high levels of carbon monoxide tonight for the second time since Thursday morning due to a gasoline-powered generator running in the basement.

For the second time since Thursday morning, Rochester firefighters were forced tonight to ventilate a house at 238 Spencer St. in the city because of high carbon monoxide levels.

About 3:30 Thursday morning, six people, including two children, were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital from the address with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Firefighters found a gasoline-powered generator running in the basement that was used to supply electricity to the house.

"The Fire Department decided that since the other night we had six people transported for CO poisoning, we were just going to stop by and check on the family and make sure everything was OK," said Battalion Chief John Kearney. "Since they had a gasoline-powered generator running inside the house the other night, we had some concerns."

When firefighters stopped at the address tonight about 9, they could hear the generator once again running inside the house.

"There was no answer at the door, and we got concerned for the occupants of the house," Kearney said. "We had the Rochester Police Department respond, and we had to force entry into the house. Through the seam of the door with our meters, we could detect that there were 400 parts-per-million of carbon monoxide in the house. We had to force entry into the house using self-contained breathing apparatus, do an entire search of the house to determine that 'thank God,' no one was home."

A carbon monoxide detector will usually sound when the air levels reach 35 ppm.

Kearney stressed that the problem is the generator. "It is a danger to everybody in the house and against the code of the city of Rochester."

There are several ways that homeowners can protect themselves from elevated carbon monoxide levels, Kearney said.

"One thing for sure is not to run any gasoline-powered equipment within the confines of the house itself," he said. "If you do have to run a generator for whatever reason, run it within a good distance from the house running a quality and supplied extension cord to the house."

Kearney added the Fire Department recommends the use of carbon monoxide detectors in every home. He said that combination smoke detector-carbon monoxide detectors can be purchased at any home store.

"The Rochester Fire Department does have a supply of (detectors) that we give out when we come to situations where people can't afford them or don't have them in the house when we go there and check," Kearney said.

Common sense will go a long way in protecting your home, Kearney said.

"Don't let your car run too long next to the house, within the garage of the house," he said. "Keep an eye on things like using your stove for heat, making sure that your furnace and hot water heater are checked every year, maintained. Those things alone will do plenty to keep the levels down."

As for the six people made ill at the Spencer Street address on Thursday, Kearney said he did not know whether they had been back to the house. He said all six had "fairly high levels of carbon monoxide in their blood" when treated at Strong.

Situations such as the Spencer Street situation are frustrating for firefighters and police officers.

"There is not a lot we can do to keep people out of their house," Kearney said. "One of the things that has come up is RPD is going to take possession of the generator. We are concerned that this individual doesn't understand he's endangering the welfare of his entire family."

Garage, car destroyed in city fire overnight
March 21, 2008

A detached one-car garage all of its contents, including a car, were destroyed by an electrical fire late yesterday at 142 Stenson St., in northwest Rochester.

Four people, including two children, live in the house in front of the garage, but they were not injured and were not displaced, though heat from the fire damaged the vinyl siding of the single-family residence, said Deputy Chief Scotty Williams of the Rochester Fire Department.

When firefighters arrived, around 11 p.m., the garage was engulfed in flames, he said. Firefighters quickly doused the blaze. No injuries were reported.

“The fire was noticed by one of the neighbors, who called the fire department,” Williams said.

He said the garage and the car inside were “a total loss.”

Stenson Street is located near Mt. Read Boulevard and Lexington Avenue in Rochester.

Carbon monoxide sends six to hospital
March 20, 2008

Six people, including two children, were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital early today after they potentially were exposed to carbon monoxide in a city residence.

Rochester firefighters and emergency medical technicians from Rural/Metro ambulance services were called to 238 Spencer Street at 3:20 a.m., after several people in a house were made ill by carbon monoxide, according to Monroe County emergency dispatchers.

The problem was that someone was running a generator in the basement of the house, said Deputy Fire Chief Scotty Williams. We advise strongly against that.

By the time emergency crews arrived at the scene, the carbon monoxide reading in the structure was around 700 parts per million, said Rural/Metro spokesman John Halldow. Williams noted that a carbon monoxide detector typically sounds when the air reaches 35 ppm.

Williams added that the affected people called 911 because they weren't feeling well, it's a good thing they did.

Further details of the incident were not immediately available.

Firefighters battle grease fire on North Street
March 20, 2008

Firefighters battled a fire at a North Street apartment building this afternoon.

The fire, which was called in about 3:15 p.m., sparked in a second-floor unit at 585 North St. and spread to the third floor, said Rochester Fire Department Deputy Chief Bill Curran.

A grease fire started in the kitchen and caused damages to four of the six units, Curran said. Four occupants of first-floor apartments fled the building when the fire started. The American Red Cross helped seven adults and five children, according to Curran.

No injuries were reported.

The apartment building is at the corner of North and Wilson streets.

North Street was closed between Portland Avenue and Helena Street while firefighters battled the blaze.

Arson heavily damages city home
March 17, 2008

City firefighters early today battled a house fire that is considered arson in northeast Rochester.

Firefighters were called to 25 Nester St., where a fire was reported at 1:50 a.m., said Deputy Fire Chief Martin McMillan. It took about 20 minutes to control the blaze.

No injuries were reported, he said. The homeowner, an elderly woman, was staying with neighbors in a nearby house and was not home when the fire broke out.

McMillan said the 1½-story house sustained extensive fire damage and is no longer inhabitable. As firefighters doused the flames, a portion of the rear porch roof collapsed, he said.

City fire investigators said the fire was intentionally set. It appeared that the blaze started in the rear of the structure.

Firefighters are investigating, to determine the how the blaze was set.

Nester Street is a residential road located between Seneca and Hudson avenues.

No injuries in fire at adult group home
March 16, 2008

There were no injuries this morning resulting from a bathroom fire at an adult group home at 385 E. Ridge Road, near the border of Rochester and Irondequoit.

The house sits next door to the U.S. Post Office in Irondequoit.

"We had a telephone report of a fire in the building," said Battalion Chief Glenn Sheremeta of the Rochester Fire Department. "It was called in by a property manager who was on site. It was a one-room fire that was contained to a bathroom."

The fire was reported about 1:40.

Sheremeta said that "five or six" clients lived in the house, but that everybody was outside safely when firefighters arrived.

"There was not much damage fire-wise," Sheremeta said. "There was a lot of smoke in the building."

Sheremeta said the fire alarm system in the building was activated and that the fire remained under investigation.

Once the building was ventilated by firefighters, the residents would be allowed to return to the house, Sheremeta said.