Railcar total loss after fire Saturday night in Medina

Photos from Medina Fire Department

MEDINA – A railcar is a total loss and another suffered minor damage after a fire Saturday in Medina.

A fire was quickly extinguished from a building with plastic totes burning on plastic pallets, the Medina Fire Department stated on its Facebook page this morning.

Firefighters were dispatched at about 7 p.m. to the area of Genesee Street at the railroad crossing, with a caller to 911 reporting smoke.

A Medina firefighter who was first on the scene reported there was smoke coming from a railcar parked behind The Olde Pickle Factory at 711 Park Ave. A crew of Medina firefighters arrived on scene and were confronted with heavy fire coming from one railcar impinging on a second railcar as well as the structure, the Medina FD said.

Firefighters from Shelby and Albion arrived to the scene. As Medina firefighters attacked the burning railcars, other Medina firefighters forced entry into the building and found fire inside the building that entered through a large window.

“The interior fire was extinguished so quickly by interior crews that the building’s sprinkler system never activated,” the Medina FD stated. “As more companies arrived on scene they assisted Medina with search and ventilation of the structure as well as extinguishment and overhaul of the railcars.”

Firefighters remained on scene until 11:15 p.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Medina Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit with assistance from the Medina Police Department, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control Fire Investigation Unit.

Comprehensive damage estimates are unavailable right now, the Medina FD said. Damage to the building and contents are well under $10,000.

“We are happy to report that there were no injuries to any civilians or firefighters at this scene,” the Medina FD said. “We would like to thank all the agencies listed above as well as the fire departments of East Shelby, Middleport, Lyndonville and Tri-Town Ambulance Inc. for their assistance at either the scene or standing by at our firehouse.”