Jamestown and county fire investigators investigating five suspicious, overnight fires; three already ruled arson...
Jamestown and Chautauqua County fire investigators are investigating five overnight fires in the city... three of which have already been ruled as arson. That from Fire Battalion Chief Andrew Finson... who says the first call was to a vacant houe at 654 East Sixth Street. Finson says the call came in shortly after 11 p.m. Friday. Finson says the two-story, vacant house was fully-ingulfed in flames when crews arrived... and, an off-duty shift was called in. While crews were at the scene on East Sixth... Finson says the second call came in -- shortly after Midnight -- to 220 Crossman St. He says that house was fully-engulfed on arrival. He says the third call, for an "outdoor" fire in a large pile of construction debris, was called in from 30 West 11th Street... just after 1 a.m. Finson says they spotted the vacant house at 22 West 11th St., was also on fire. He says more off-duty firefighters were called in at that point... and the final call was to another vacant house at 33 West 10th just after 2 a.m. He says fighting five fires within three hours took it's toll. Finson says some firefighters wound up at three fires during the three hour time frame. He says they called in mutual aid from Falconer, Lakewood, Celoron, Kiantone and Fluvanna Fire Companies. But... he says just one firefighter suffered a minor injury. Finson says city fire investigators have already determined the blazes on East Sixth, Crossman, and, West 10th Streets were intentionally set. Anyone with information on any of the overnight fires is asked to call the Jamestown Police Tips-line at 483-TIPS... that's 483-8477.
Jamestown Fires causing discolored water through-out BPU service areas...
With five fires during the overnight hours... there is wide-spread discolored water in the Jamestown Board of Public Utilites water system. That from BPU Spokeswoman Becky Robbins... who says all customers should be on alert for possible discolored water in the next 12-to-24 hours. The five fires required the opening of many fire hydrants which stirs and discolors our water. The water is safe but displeasing to view. Do not do laundry until your water appears clear.
City fire crews also looking into two other fires since Wednesday morning...
Jamestown fire investigators are looking into the cause of a small fire that broke out in the second-story of a two-story garage on Jamestown's eastside Friday afternoon. City Fire Battalion Chief Andrew Finson says crews were called to the scene at 529 East Fifth Street just after 12 Noon... and, found the fire quickly. Finson says they pulled a hand-line and had the blaze out in about 5-minutes. No one was hurt... firefighters were at the scene about 50-minutes.
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City fire investigators have also ruled a small fire in a vacant house on Winsor Street was inetntionally set. Fire Battalion Chief Andrew Finson says crews were called to 441 Winsor Street about 9 a.m. this past Wednesday. Finson says damp and humid conditions inside may have prevented the blaze from growing bigger. No one was hurt in that arson fire.
Falconer mayor says fence has been put up around downtown fire scene, demolition to begin Monday...
Demolition work on what's left of a huge commercial and apartment building destroyed in last Wednesday's fire in downtown Falconer is now expected to begin during the day Monday. That from Falconer Mayor Jim Rensel... who says the property owners for 29 to 35 West Main Street have now signed agreements to do the work. However... Rensel says, first, a 6-foot-tall fence has been put up around the scene to keep people away from portions of the structure where the threat of collapse is still a major concern. He says they next need to get the plan for tearing down the remains underway, and get the debris hauled away. Rensel says the fencing process will include a "collapse zone" on the Main Street side... which would account for the possibility that they three-story brick wall were to come down all at once. At this point... Rensel says West Main Street from Davis Street to the area of the four-corners with South Work Street will remain closed through the weekend. He says it will stay closed until the demolition work is done.
Falconer community continues to rally in support of fire victims...
Members of the Falconer community are coming together to help the people displaced by Wednesday's devasting fire that left 19 people without a place to live. Falconer School Superintendent Steve Penhollow says they are working with Mayor Rensel to get donations of clothes, laundry detergent and monetary donations. Checks can be made out to the "Cheer Fund." Both Rensel and Penhollow say donations can be dropped off at the Hogg Shop on East Main Street. Rensel says he's also working to keep as many of the displaced businesses in the village. A Community Prayer service last night at First Baptist Church in Falconer drew about 30 people. The organization "Brothers by Choice" tells us today that they don't need anymore donations of clothes... but they still need towels, blankets, bedding, toiletries... and pots and pans. Rensel says a former Falconer resident has also started a GoFundMe page to support the people displaced by the fire. You can go on-line to www.gofundme/downtown-falconer-fire-victims.com.
Jamestown drug traffickers indicted by federal Grand Jury...
Two Jamestown men -- one arrested last year for being found in possession of about 17-pounds of drugs -- face an 11-count federal indictment for trafficking large amounts of cocaine... methamphetime... and, marijuana. Acting U-S Attorney James Kennedy, Jr. says a federal grand jury returned the indictment Friday against 34 year-old Juan Pacheco, Jr, and, 36 year-old Andrew Garner -- also known as "Bam." Kennedy says both are charged with conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms or more of cocaine, more than 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and marijuana, and maintaining a drug involved premises. Pacheco was also charged with possession with intent to distribute those drugs. Garner was additionally charged with distribution of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana. Kennedy says Pacheco faces at least 20 years in prison... while Garner faces 10. Both also face a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10-million dollar fine.
