Bolivar: Two state, three county response to fire at commercial building/apartments

A ladder truck from Westons Mills positions itself in the middle of
Main Street. Photo credit: Allentown Vol. Fire Dept.

With temperatures hovering around zero, firefighters from New York and Pennsylvania were called to 58 Wellsville Street in Bolivar at 8:30 p.m. Sunday when a tenant reported smelling something burning in an apartment. The commercial block building with apartments on the upper floors is located at the corner of Main and Wellsville Streets in the village. The first responding chief reported smoke present inside the building and quickly elevated the response to a two-alarm fire. According to Allegany County Fire Wire, some hydrants were also reportedly frozen near the scene. That condition, coupled by the size of the building and apartments and smoke, prompted a response to the scene from Bolivar, Richburg, Allentown, Alma, Wellsville, Shinglehouse, Portville and Westons Mills. Several other departments were given standby assignments. Water and near zero temperatures created a hazardous scene for the volunteers. State Route 417 was closed for some time while fire crews were in operation. No word on the cause. Allegany County Fire Coordinator Jeff Luckey returned to service at 1:30 a.m.