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Friday, September 25, 2020

Large explosion, fire strikes Bath business

On Thursday September 24, 2020 at 2:50 p.m. the Bath Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched for a working structure fire at T&R Environmental Services Haz Mat building located next door to T&R Towing on Route 415 North of the Village of Bath. Large plumes of heavy black smoke could be seen for miles. Assistant Chief Sean Walruth was first on scene and immediately started calling for mutual aid tankers for water and manpower. In all 16 department were called to aid in our effort to bring the massive fire under control.

Originally T&R’s Haz Mat building was fully involved in intense flame and heavy black smoke. There were several large fireballs that went high into the sky from the barrels of oil that were exploding. Crews were setup to try to protect the T&R office and dispatch center and the Fred Roberts Auto Parts buildings located on each side of the Haz Mat building. The dispatch building was saved, however the intense heat got into the Fred Roberts Auto building totally involving that as well due to the heavy load of oil, paint, paint thinner and other flammable materials inside the auto parts store.

It took roughly 4 hours to bring the fire under control and a few hours more to mop up and extinguish the fire completely. By the time Bath units got back in quarters and got the equipment back in ready condition for calls it was approximately 11:30 pm. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Bath Volunteer Ambulance was on scene in case of injuries and to monitor firefighters thru the duration of the fire. Law enforcement agencies went door to door of the local homes in the immediate area to evacuated them to a safety.

Brian Polmanteer, who is the owner of T&R wants to extend his gratitude to all the departments and everyone that came to help in his time of need. He is just grateful none of his employees or any of the firefighters were seriously hurt during the fire.

The Bath Volunteer Fire Department is extremely grateful to all the mutual aid departments that came to help battle this inferno. We also would like to thank the following businesses who donated food and water to all the firefighters. Sav-A-Lot, Rico’s Pizza, Angry Oven Pizza, Pizza D, Big D’s & Chef T’s, Pilot Truck Stop, Southern Tier Provisions, Maybe Baby Burgers, Tractor Supply. Also, to Mary Seager who is a neighbor to the fire station who came and helped make sandwiches.

Respectfully submitted,

John Conrad Sr.

Public Information Officer

The Bath Volunteer Fire Dept.