WEDNESDAY UPDATE-
Investigators believe they know what caused a massive fire in the village of Ovid Tuesday night that destroyed six buildings on its Main Street. At a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Sheriff Tim Thompson said the fire originated from one of the apartments housed over top of the Big M supermarket.
“Our investigators interviewed several people involved, and the origin has been isolated to a charging device in an electrical outlet,” said Sheriff Thompson. “The resident of the apartment had plugged in the charging device and noticed it was smoking a few hours later after returning to the apartment. She then gathered her children and fled the apartment.”
Ovid Fire Chief Tim Westlake explained a little more about the charger.
“To our understanding it was a power-source charging device. So you plug it in, you charge the unit up and you can take it with you camping things like that. You can use it to recharge your phone, possibly power a television while your camping. It’s a portable power source.”
In total, six buildings on Main Street were destroyed by the fire. 15 to 20 people who lived in the apartments were displaced and are being helped by the American Red Cross.
Amazingly enough, no injuries were reported. One firefighter suffered an asthma attack while on scene and was cleared by EMS personnel. Two other firefighters were victims of the extreme cold conditions. Chief Westlake said one of the firefighters gloves froze to his hands and another had a t-shirt freeze to his upper body from sweat and water. Both firefighters were checked over on scene and released.
Main St in Ovid is closed to ALL TRAFFIC from the Library to Community Bank. East Seneca St is closed at The Coffee Shop. West Seneca is closed before the back parking lot. PLEASE AVOID THE AREA! Barricades are up. Do not cross the barricades.

Seneca County Board of Supervisors Chairman Michael Enslow released a statement regarding Tuesday night’s fire:
“Last night, a devastating fire tore through the heart of Ovid, leaving an entire block in ruins and countless lives forever changed. This is an unimaginable tragedy for our community, and our hearts are heavy with grief for all those who have been affected.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the residents, business owners, and families who have suffered loss in this heartbreaking event. Ovid is more than just a Village, a Town- it’s a community of neighbors who support and care for one another. In times like these, we find strength in coming together, leaning on one another, and lifting each other up.
“We also extend our deepest gratitude to the first responders, firefighters, and volunteers who worked tirelessly and courageously in the face of this overwhelming disaster. Their dedication and bravery remind us of the strength and resilience that define our community.
“Seneca County stands with Ovid, now and in the days to come, as we begin the process of healing and rebuilding together.”
It took firefighters more than eight hours to contain the massive fire that tore through downtown Ovid last night, destroying the Big M grocery store. Crews from Seneca, Cayuga, Ontario, Schuyler, Tompkins, Yates, and Wayne Counties battled the flames, which reportedly started in an apartment above the store.
Upon arrival, firefighters ensured all residents were safely evacuated. The fire quickly spread, engulfing the neighboring Uptown Diner, which later collapsed. Flames also reached the Ovid Tax Collector’s Office, Eva’s Laundry, and the Italian Kitchen at the end of the block.
Firefighters faced brutal conditions, with temperatures in the single digits and wind chills below zero. Around 12:30 a.m., mutual aid was called in to relieve exhausted crews. By early this morning, two excavators were on-site, demolishing what remained of the buildings.
Meanwhile, The United Way of Seneca County has announced it is in the process of organizing efforts to help those impacted by the Ovid fire. In a post on its Facebook page, the United Way says that as it figures out logistics, it will share where physical donations like clothing, food, household and personal hygiene items can be made as well as monetary donations. The town of Seneca Falls Police Department, on its Facebook page, also indicated it will accept donations for fire victims. The Waterloo Fire Department is also accepting donations for Ovid residents.
Last night’s fire at the Big M store in Ovid forced the Seneca County Health Department and the Village of Ovid’s Department of Public Works to issue a Water Conservation Order for the Village. All residents are being asked to limit water usage until further notice.
12:30 a.m. UPDATE-
Excavators are on the scene and are going to work on tearing down the structures damaged by last night’s fire.
10:30pm UPDATE –
It’s now been 4-and-half hours of firefighters battling the Ovid Big M fire.
NYSEG is now cutting down power lines along main street because the lines and power pole were damaged by the fames.
Embers from the fire are still shooting out causing a concern for as far away at the Ovid Three Bears. It’s still unknown how bad the next door business might have been damaged.
Apartments above the buildings were safely evacuated.
Temperatures dropped to about 7 degrees as firefighters battled the blaze.
Water in Ovid ran low, so fire companies from Cayuga, Ontario, Seneca, Schuyler, Tompkins, Yates and Wayne Counties trucked in water from the Five Points Prison and from the hamlet of Willard. At one point 10 firetrucks were lined up at the prison waiting to fill up.
A fuel truck was brought in to refuel the fire trucks.
Maine Street in Ovid is be shutdown by the State DOT. Salt trucks are working the area because of the ice from the water.
Sessler Wrecking is now on the scene, waiting to move in and start demolition.





A number of fire departments are on scene of a fire at the Ovid Big M building. The call came in at 5:45 p.m. for a fire in the apartments above the Big M store on Main Street.
Departments from all over the Finger Lakes have responded to the scene. In addition to the raging fire, firefighters on scene are also battling frigid temperatures and getting water to the scene.
A Water Conservation Order for the Village of Ovid has been ordered.
Prior to being sold to current owners Scott and Jake Hermann, the Big M was owned by the McKee family. Jim McKee ran the store from 1970 to 2014. His daughter, Sue Cirencione purchased the supermarket from her father before selling it in early 2023. In addition to Big M, the Hermann’s own Heerema’s Food Market in Irondequoit and the Seneca Knolls Big M in Syracuse.
This is a developing story. We will continue to update as more information is made available.



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