BY BRIEANN RICH
Special to the Journal-Register
Smoke filled the air, and fire engines crowded the streets as firefighters from Medina, Lyndonville, Ridgeway, Shelby, Middleport and Albion battled a house fire at 429 Park Ave. Thursday afternoon.
One resident suffered minor injuries, and a Medina firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion, officials said.
Medina, Lyndonville and Shelby fire companies were all dispatched at 3:57 p.m. to the structure fire. Flames were quickly spreading through the house when Medina firefighters arrived. Additional assistance was requested from nearly every department in the county.
The vinyl siding was rapidly melting off the house as firefighters fought back flames on the west side of the building.
The warm weather made extra hazardous conditions, and responders continually worked in rotating shifts to avoid heat exhaustion; however, one Lyndonville firefighter was later transported to Medina Memorial Hospital for treatment, officials said.
The owner of the home, Earl Bane, said the house consists of three separate apartments — two had occupants, and the last had just been leased earlier that morning. He said he had been working on the house “a little bit” at a time since he acquired the building, attempting to bring the electrical up to code.
One resident was transported to Medina Memorial Hospital for minor injuries, according to reports. Meanwhile, firefighters worked diligently to save pets that were home at the time — carrying out a bird cage, as well as a cat that was found alive after the flames were extinguished.
The fire was brought under control after burning for nearly two hours. Orleans County fire investigators are looking into the cause of the fire. The Red Cross was contacted to provide shelter and assistance for at least six residents of the apartment building.
