Geneseo  Fire Severely Damages Village Residence

 

A residence at 13 Ward Place, Village of Geneseo, suffered extensive damage in a fire on Tuesday, July 14.

When firefighters arrived, there was significant smoke coming from the roof of the residence. The residence and surrounding residences were cleared by the Geneseo Police Department and Geneseo Firefighters under the direction of Captain John Roodenburg who was in command of the scene,  He was assisted by the Livingston County Fire Coordintor’s office, led by Fire Coordinator Kevin Niedermaier. Avon, Lakeville, Livonia, and Mt Morris fire departments also responded, as well as the Geneseo Ambulance and Livingston County EMS. York Fire Department was on standby.

Other homes on the narrow street were saved, but the residence at 13 Ward Place suffered extensive damage, as the fire spread to other parts of the house from the roof before the fire could be extinguished.

According to Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian.  “The street is so narrow and the houses only 3-4 feet apart, so we were lucky we still were able to get an aerial truck in there to get water on the roof, and keep the other houses safe, too …at least no one was hurt in the fire.”

According to Osganian, the house had been a college rental.  The owner of the property noted that the dark gray over hundred year old house had been moved to the Ward Place site decades ago, after having been moved from a previous site, where it served as the original Geneseo firehouse.

Investigation into the cause of the fire is under investigation, but looks to be accidental. Roofers had been working on the roof earlier in the day in the area where the roof fire started, but no one was on the roof when smoke was noticed coming from the roof area, erupting into fire.