Couple injured in Albion fire are in guarded condition
Photos by Tom Rivers: Firefighters work to put out a fire at 5 Elmwood Ave. in Albion on Wednesday night. This photo is from the back of the property.
ALBION – The Albion couple who were seriously injured in Wednesday’s fire at 5 Elmwood Ave. are in guarded condition in the burn unit at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, Police Chief Roland Nenni said.
Vincenzo Spampanato, 81, and Felicia Spampanato, 72, had recently moved into the house on Elmwood.
The Albion Police Department and Albion Fire Department were dispatched to the site at 6:21 p.m. after a report of heavy smoke coming from the residence and possible explosions.
The Spampanatos were found in the front yard suffering from burn injuries.
Vincenzo Spampanato was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight. Felicia Spampanato was transported by Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance (COVA) to Strong Memorial Hospital.
The initial investigation has revealed that Vincenzo Spampanato was performing maintenance on a gas heating appliance in the basement of the residence when an explosion occurred, ultimately resulting in the house catching fire and becoming heavily involved in fire.
The Investigation into the cause of the explosion and resulting fire is being conducted by the Albion Police Department, Orleans County Fire Investigation Unit, Orleans County Emergency Management Office, New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG).
The investigation is ongoing at this time, Nenni said.
Mr. Spampanato is well known by many in Albion for his job working in the deli at the Albion Walmart. The couple moved from Carlton to the dead-end street in the village about a month ago.
Firefighters were at the 20-degree scene for several hours on Wednesday.
