Massive 3-alarm fire in Bath, NY

At 9:02 PM on Monday March 11th the Bath Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched for a possible structure fire at the former Babcock Ladder Factory currently owned by Clark’s Specialty Company reported from a passerby located at 36 Delaware Ave, in the Village of Bath. The Bath Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Bath Village Police were first on scene and confirmed flames were through the roof. Bath Assistant Fire Chief David Dowdle arrived immediately afterwards and called for a full second alarm assignment and minutes later calling for a third alarm assignment with heavy fire and smoke conditions.

Fire Departments from all over Steuben County were called in to help fight this large fire. Bath VA, Hammondsport, Avoca, Kanona, Savona, Campbell Painted Post were called initially. About an hour later additional units from Wayland, Corning Joint Fire District, Prattsburgh and Forest View Gang Mills for additional manpower to relieve the firefighters that had been fighting the fire from the beginning. The New York State Police had to send units onto I-86 to keep traffic moving that was stopping along the highway to watch the fire, so an accident did not also hamper things and cause injury.

The fire was called under control at about 12:45 AM with many units still on scene at the time of this release to try to knock down some smaller fires. With the metal roof there will be many places that will remain smoldering through the night and for some time. No injuries have been reported. Currently the cause of the fire is unknown and is under investigation by the Steuben County Fire Investigation Team.

Respectfully Submitted,

John Conrad Sr.

Public Information Officer

The Bath Volunteer Fire Dept