Multi-family apartment building in Bath evacuated as firefighters knock down blaze

A multi-family, two-story apartment building in the Village of Bath was evacuated Saturday morning as the Bath Volunteer Fire Department knocked down a blaze.

Bath firefighters were dispatched to 101 W. Washington St. at 9:41 a.m., responding to reports of smoke billowing from a window.

Assistant Chief Curtis Wininger arrived on scene first and reported a working structure fire in a multi-family, two-story apartment building and requested a second alarm. Bath Village Police had checked the apartment and said the occupants had escaped but a bedroom was on fire, according to Bath Fire Department Public Information Officer John Conrad, Sr.

Bath police and a Steuben County Sheriff's Deputy continued to evacuate the remaining apartments while firefighters from Bath and Bath VA fire attacked the fire. The quick response from both departments along with a rapid interior attack knocked down the blaze quickly, Conrad said.

The fire was contained to the apartment where the blaze started, and it did not spread to other apartments. The fast action allowed authorities on scene to recall the remaining units that were requested on the second alarm.

An investigation by the Bath Fire Department determined the cause of the blaze was a charging lithium battery pack that overheated and sparked the fire. The apartment suffered extensive damage. The local Red Cross was on the scene to aid the occupant of the apartment.

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Bath Chief Mike Fiordo determined the fire was under control at 10:03 a.m. and all units cleared the scene and were back in service at 11:16 a.m.

This article originally appeared on The Leader: Bath firefighters extinguish blaze at W. Washington St. apartment