Albion fire under control, but firefighters in for long night

Spark from grinder likely cause of blaze at Orleans Pallet

Photos by Tom Rivers – There is still a lot of smoke coming from the three-story Albion warehouse that was fully engulfed in flames soon after the fire broke out around 4 p.m. This photo was taken at 7:30 p.m. from Washington Street.

Firefighters continue to direct water on the smoldering rubble at Orleans Pallet at 227 West Ave. The Town of Batavia ladder truck, at right, is one of at least five ladder trucks that were brought in to help put out the fire.

ALBION – A massive fire that fully engulfed a three-story warehouse has likely been contained to that building, sparing neighboring structures, including Empire Coatings Inc.

“We’re out of the danger stage, and now we’re in the mop-up stage, which is going to take a long time,” Paul Wagner, the Orleans County emergency management coordinator, said at about 7:30 p.m.

By then the roof had collapsed at Orleans Pallet, a big structure along the railroad tracks at Hamilton Street and Route 31. After more than three hours of firefighting, the inside of the building was full of big piles of rubble that were still smoldering and giving off a lot of smoke.

“It’s going to be a real long night,” an Albion firefighter said.

The blaze started when workers were cutting pipe supports with a grinder, Wagner said. A spark ignited nearby debris at the south end of the building and the fire quickly spread.

“The workers grabbed a fire extinguisher but the fire was too far gone,” he said.

Police and firefighters are maintaining a perimeter about a half-mile from the fire at 227 West Ave.

This photo was taken from Hamilton Street near the railroad tracks.