A press conference will be held on Thursday afternoon to provide an update on the large warehouse fire that broke out last weekend in Gorham.
The briefing is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the Ontario County Safety Training Center, located at 2914 County Road 48 in Hopewell.
Representatives from multiple agencies and levels of government are expected to attend, including the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, Ontario County Office of Emergency Management, New York State Office of Fire Protection and Control, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Ontario County Public Health. Local and state leaders, including Gorham Town Supervisor Dale Stell, Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan, Senator Pam Helming, and representatives from Congresswoman Claudia Tenney’s office, will also take part.
The fire, which occurred Saturday at ECO Operations on Dewey Avenue, drew a response from numerous fire departments and agencies.
Assemblyman 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.
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