Fire damages home in Cottage Park area of Busti between Lakewood and Ashville...
(**Alert)Fire has gutted the first-floor of a small, single-family home in the Cottage Park area of Ashville... just outside of Lakewood. Lakewood firefighters were called to the scene at 2244 First Ave. about 11:30 this morning. Fire Chief Kurt Hallberg says they found a lot of smoke coming from the front of the house... and, there was fire and smoke visable from the driverway side windows. Hallberg says they got initial word of entrapment in the home... but, soon found that everyone was out and accounted for. However... two pet dogs perished in the blaze. Hallberg says fire damage was confined to the first-floor... while there was smoke damage on the second-floor. He says they called in mutual aid from Ashville and Celoron Fire Departments... and, a member of the Panama Fire Department also stopped to assist. No firefighters were hurt. Crews were still overhauling the scene early this afternoon. The county's Fire Investigation Team was called in to look for a cause.
BPU reports discolored water from hydrant use in Lakewood-area fire...
The use of a fire hydrant in battling the blaze in Lakewood has caused some discolored water in that part of the Board of Public Utilities service area. BPU Spokeswoman Becky Robbins says the water has been stirred up on the west side of Jamestown, West Ellicott, Lakewood, Celoron, Cottage Park and west. Robbins says water customers should avoid doing laundry until water appears clear. Water generally takes 12-24 hours to clear.