Seneca County is seeing a streak of residential fires this week, with Tuesday morning’s blaze in Varick marking the third in just four days.
At around 2:15 this morning, deputies and fire crews from across the county responded to 4792 Route 414 after reports of an active house fire. Firefighters from Fayette, Waterloo, Junius, Lodi, Canoga, Ovid, Interlaken, and Border City worked to contain the fire. Officials say the home was a total loss, but the occupants evacuated safely. The Fire Chief determined the blaze was caused by an unattended propane heater, and the house was fully insured.
On Sunday morning, a small fire broke out at a Fayette home on Leader Road. Crews from Fayette, Varick, Waterloo, Canoga, and Seneca Falls, along with North Seneca Ambulance, responded. The fire, caused by a salamander heater under the structure, was quickly extinguished with minimal damage. All residents and pets escaped unharmed.
Early Saturday, firefighters responded to a residential fire in the Town of Lodi. Crews from Lodi, Ovid, Romulus, Varick, and other mutual aid departments were able to contain the fire, but the home sustained heavy damage. Investigators said the fire appeared to start from a blocked chimney. Fortunately, the residents escaped without injury.
Authorities are urging residents to exercise caution with heaters, chimneys, and other potential fire hazards as the county experiences this recent surge in home fires.
