Fire investigation at South Hornell Volunteer Fire Company

SOUTH HORNELL, N.Y. (WETM) – 18 News has confirmed that an investigation is underway into a fire at the South Hornell Volunteer Fire Company that damaged part of the station. Fire Chief Matt Donovan said the fire started in a trash can outside the building shortly after 2 p.m. Friday at 6233 Crittenden Road.

Chief Donovan says the fire spread to the wall and roof. The flames damaged the station's office and meeting room, but no fire vehicles or equipment were damaged. No one was hurt.

Chief Donovan says there were no firefighters at the station when the fire broke out. Volunteer fire stations are not staffed 24 hours a day. Donovan says about 20 firefighters from South Hornell and the town of Hornell quickly brought the fire under control. In less than two hours, Donovan says firefighters were ready to respond to calls again. Donovan says a Steuben County fire investigation team is investigating the cause of the fire.

In a Facebook post Sunday, the South Hornell Fire Company announced it received a $1,000 donation from the Fremont Volunteer Fire Department. The message said: “The word brotherhood came to mind when the Fremont Fire Chief called to say his department would like to help our department following the recent fire in our meeting room.“