Catastrophic Fire and Freezing Temperatures

January 24, 2025. On the evening of Tuesday, January 21, 2025, a devastating fire erupted in the village of Ovid, New York, destroying six businesses and eleven apartments. The fire began in an apartment above the Big M Supermarket, where a charging device left plugged into an electrical outlet began smoking. The blaze spread rapidly, engulfing the Big M Supermarket, Italian Kitchen, Uptown Diner, a laundromat, the Steps office, and nearby apartments.

Though the fire displaced several families and caused minor injuries to several firefighters, no serious injuries were reported—a remarkable outcome given the scale of the disaster.

The Ovid Fire Department responded swiftly, joined by automatic mutual aid units from Interlaken, Lodi, and Romulus just before 6:00 p.m. Ovid Fire Chief Timothy Westlake, Sr. quickly issued a county-wide call for tanker shuttles, requesting approximately 30 tankers within 10 minutes of the initial dispatch. Additional county-wide calls brought in six aerial trucks and additional manpower.

Over 200 first responders from across the region worked with steadfast determination for more than 11 hours to battle the inferno. Despite facing extreme challenges, including -5° temperatures, water supply issues, and equipment freezing, they managed to contain the blaze. Firefighters remained on-site well into the following day, extinguishing hot spots.

During this crisis, the Ovid Fire Department Auxiliary stepped up to provide food and support to both firefighters and displaced residents. Volunteers also coordinated donations of food and essential supplies to meet immediate needs.

The community has shown profound gratitude for the firefighters’ dedication and the support from local residents during this catastrophe. The Minoa Fire Department extends its heartfelt salute to these courageous men and women for their extraordinary service and commitment to protecting others.

Ovid Fire Department Press Release: 1/22/2025

At approx. 17:48 hrs on 1/21/2025 Seneca County 911 Center received a call for an apartment fire above the Ovid Big M at 7174 North Main St. Ovid Fire Department and automatic mutual aid units from Interlaken, Lodi, and Romulus were dispatched at 17:49 hrs with Ovid 1131 (Quint) arriving on scene at 17:51 hrs. At 17:52 hrs Ovid Chief Timothy Westlake, Sr requested a county all-call for tanker shuttle. Within 10 minutes of the first dispatch approximately 30 tankers had been requested. Two county all-calls for equipment which included 6 total ariels,) and manpower were requested.

We established 2 separate command posts; one for operations and one for assignment, back fill of equipment and apparatus, and manpower.  Four separate water supplies were established, 3 on-scene and one at the Ovid water tower. Fill sites were established, 2 at Five Points Correctional, 1 at a dry hydrant on Southtown Building Road, and one at Grandview on the Former Willard DTC Campus. At 2 hours into fire operations NYSEG was asked to cut power to additional locations which caused the pump house to lose power and stop filling the Ovid water tower. An additional ariel unit was requested to the scene at that time. Due to loss of water supply from the tower and grave conditions including icy roads, frozen valves and temperatures below zero with the windchill the fire jumped the alley between Uptown Diner and Eva’s Laundromat. Over the next several hours crews continued to combat weather conditions and water supply issues, while maintaining the integrity of the Italian Kitchen building. After 3 hours of the flames impinging on the firewall of Italian Kitchen the firewall began to fail, and fire spread into the apartments above the pizzeria. Knowing the dangers of the buildings’ collapse 3 excavators were brought in to help crews gain better access to control the fire.

The buildings involved were 7172-7182 Main St and 2147 W Seneca St. Buildings 7172-7182 Main St were a total loss and the buildings had to be demolished to bring the fire under control. 2147 W Seneca St was unoccupied and suffered heat, smoke and water damage to the outside of the building. All buildings were built between 1850-1885.

6 businesses were affected with 5 requiring demolition (including Ovid Big M, Uptown Diner, Eva’s Laundromat, STEPS Project, and Italian Kitchen,) leaving 60 people unemployed, and an additional 15-20 individuals (including children) were displaced due to the loss of 10 apartments.

We are incredibly grateful for the amount of donations and outpouring of support we received today from Ovid and surrounding communities, and multiple businesses!!! …