A state investigation is being sought after Saturday’s massive warehouse fire in Gorham, which officials say was fueled by large amounts of expired hand sanitizer stored illegally at the site.
Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan announced Sunday night that he is referring the matter to the New York State Attorney General’s Office, citing what he called “reckless and irresponsible behavior” by the warehouse owner, ECO Operations LLC, and its operator, Eduard Zaydman.
“This disaster was entirely preventable,” the assemblyman said. “The owner repeatedly ignored town codes and state laws, failed to install a fire suppression system, and attempted to illegally dump waste from the site. Their negligence put lives, property, and the environment at risk.”
The warehouse on Dewey Avenue erupted in flames around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, drawing dozens of firefighters from across Ontario and Yates counties. Foam equipment was trucked in from the Rochester and Elmira airports to help contain the blaze.
Ontario County Undersheriff Michael Rago said the fire appeared to start outside the building before spreading inside, where “volatile” materials fueled the flames. No injuries were reported, though heavy smoke prompted officials to issue a precautionary Hyper-Reach alert urging nearby residents to stay indoors.
Crews worked into Sunday morning to get the fire under control. The building remains under investigation, now with state authorities expected to become involved.
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