One person was killed and several, including firefighters, were injured during a three-alarm fire in Bath on March 3.
At approximately 1:38 a.m. on, the Bath Fire Department was dispatched to a reported commercial building at at 12 W. Steuben St. in downtown Bath.
An occupant of the rear apartment was awoken to find smoke and flames in the upstairs of the building. He escaped by jumping from a second floor window and ran to the Bath Police Station for assistance.
First arriving units found heavy smoke issuing from the building as well as a reported occupant trapped. A second alarm followed quickly by a third alarm assignment was requested bringing the Bath VA, Hammondsport, Kanona, Savona, Prattsburgh, Campbell, Cohocton, Avoca, Pulteney, Wayne, the Steuben County Office of Emergency Management and Bath Ambulance to the scene.
As fire units were arriving on scene, members of the Bath Police Department and Deputies from the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department we door to door along the row of second story apartments evacuating occupants.
There are two apartments on the second floor. The occupant of the first apartment was not home at the time of the fire. The occupant of the second apartment that jumped from the window suffered injuries and was transported to Ira Davenport Hospital where he was treated. The second occupant perished in the fire.
The fire was officially placed under control at 4:24 am. Units remained on scene through the night and finally went back in service at 10:15 am.
“The valiant effort by all firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, is a testament to their dedication and to the ability of our community," Bath Fire Chief David Dowdle said. "They overcame a large volume of fire, old construction and sub-zero temperatures to keep two local business viable. While the loss of life is tragic, this incident could have had a much worse outcome.”
The fire was contained to the building of origin. 12 W. Steuben St suffered significant fire damage to the upper floor and smoke and water damage to the first floor. The two immediately adjoining businesses, Stephanie’s Family Restaurant and the Steuben Courier, suffered only a light smoke condition and are expected to reopen in the very near future.
In addition to the one civilian injury and one civilian fatality, three firefighters suffered minor injury. One was treated and released at Ira Davenport Hospital for debris in the eyes, one suffered a minor burn and one an injury from a slip and fall on scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Steuben County Fire Investigation Team, members of the Bath Fire Department and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control.
Painted Post stood by in the Bath station, East Campbell stood by in the Savona station and Tyrone stood by in the Hammondsport station.
