Cause of devastating fire in small NY village determined. What we know now
An outpouring of community support has followed the massive fire that ripped through Ovid Tuesday night, destroying a full block of businesses – including the village’s grocery store and a popular eatery – and displacing nearly 20 people from their homes.
Here’s more on the fire, what sparked the blaze and how community members are helping one another.
What happened in Ovid, NY?
The fire sparked in an apartment above the Big M Market on Ovid’s Main Street around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.
“The fire spread quickly and resulted in devastating loss,” Seneca County Sheriff Timothy Thompson said in a news conference on Wednesday. The fire spread through a full block within the Seneca County village and consumed the businesses and apartments in its path.
More than 200 firefighters battled the massive blaze and were on scene for more than nine hours Tuesday into Wednesday.
What sparked the fire in Ovid, NY?
Thompson said that a charging device plugged into an electrical outlet in an apartment above the Big M store was determined to be the cause of the fire, which spread rapidly.
A resident of the apartment told authorities she plugged in the device and noticed that it was smoking several hours later, he said. She quickly ushered her family from the apartment upon noticing the problem.
Was anyone injured in the Ovid fire?
Yes, but only minor injuries were reported, mostly due to water icing over on firefighters in subzero temperatures.
Why did the fire spread quickly in Ovid, NY?
Ovid Fire Department Chief Timothy Westlake said that firefighters dealt with “multiple challenges” as they battled the blaze – the freezing cold temperatures (which caused both equipment and firefighters to ice over almost instantly), high winds, a depleted water supply and the building construction itself.
“It was a combination of many things,” Westlake said in a news conference. “You add in the winds, you add in the difficulty in being able to get access to the Main Street side with all the power wires, fallen wires, cable wires that go down through there — and on the back side, it’s a long reach…then the fire load itself.”
Westlake also said that in fighting the blaze, firefighters depleted the town’s water supply, taking it to a “critical level.” Tanker fire trucks on scene froze up and stopped working as well. Classes were canceled Wednesday as well at South Seneca Central School District, in part due to the lack of water, but also the subzero wind chills.
Which Ovid businesses were destroyed?
Six businesses were affected with five of those businesses requiring demolition due to the significant fire damage, according to the Ovid Fire Department.
Businesses destroyed and ultimately razed include:
As a result, 60 people lost their jobs.
The Main Street buildings that were destroyed in the fire were built in the mid-1800s, most of them between 1850 and 1880, Westlake said.
How many people lost their homes in Ovid fire?
Thompson said that 15 to 20 people (including children) were displaced from the 10 apartments destroyed in the blaze. The American Red Cross is assisting.
“We lost property – material goods – that’s it,” Westlake said.
Warming Centers in place
As firefighters fought the fire, other businesses in the area opened their doors so emergency responders could warm up or escape the frigid temperatures, Westlake said.
Several warming centers opened Wednesday within the village and offered a warm spot where one could charge their devices and grab some food. Spots include the Interlaken Public Library and the Lodi Whittier Library.
The Ovid Fire House will also be open Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon and from 4 to 6 p.m. to provide food to anyone in need.
How to help victims of Ovid fire?
Numerous fundraisers are underway to assist those displaced from their homes and the business owners impacted by the fire.
Storage units will be in place at the Town of Seneca Falls Police Department and Seneca County Sheriff’s Office Thursday for donations of clothing, household items, toiletries and furniture.
Other donation drop sites (food can be donated here):
Ovid Fire house – Thursday 10 a.m. to noon, 4 to 6 p.m. (paper product and food donations)
SC House of Concern, Waterloo -10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
VanGalder Family Farm, 5854 County Rd 14, Alpine, NY 14805 – Thursday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Other resources:
Ovid Thrift Store – clothing & available items
Ashia’s Closet – clothing, Saturday 10am-3pm
Family Hope Center – diapers, baby supplies – call or text for Ovid pick up Thursday 1/22 from 10am-2pm (315) 789-0708
SC House of Concern – food, clothing and household items
Ovid Federated Church – clothing, food
Big D Auctions & Estate Service – (315) 521-1999 – clothing, household items
Seneca County Health Department is providing N-95 masks, dental kits, safety information available at Community Bank, Ovid, Lodi Library and Interlaken Library
People’s Baptist Church, 364 Main St. Newfield, NY, second Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m., third Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon
Details on where to direct monetary donations have not yet been finalized or announced.
What’s next?
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Cause of devastating fire in Ovid NY determined. What we know now
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