Fredonia apartment goes up in flames

For the second time this semester, a local fire has made headlines across Western New York. Luckily no injuries were reported after a fire broke out in downtown Fredonia on April 5.

A candle sparked the flame that ignited the Barker Commons Apartments on Main Street last week, causing many of its occupants to flee from the building.

"We were just sitting outside and saw smoke everywhere," said Torre Nasta, a Fredonia High School student. "I had to run upstairs to tell everyone and everyone thought I was joking." Nasta said she was taking a dance class in the neighboring building when the fire began. She sat along with her friends and watched as smoke began to billow from the windows of the Main Street apartment complex.

"I was upstairs and then we heard Torre yell ‘fire' and we all came down," said Kaitlin Lowther, a Fredonia High School student and friend of Nasta who was also in the dance school at the time of the fire.

Across the street on the steps of the Fredonia Historical Museum sat the building's landlord, Michael Pucci. He stood in shock as he watched his apartment building burn. Pucci did not have too much to say as the fire consumed his property. "I believe it was a candle fire," he said to The Leader.

Fredonia Police Chief Bradley Meyers confirmed Becci's speculation.

"A young lady was trying to light a candle and it fell on a mattress," Meyers said. He added that the girls in the apartment attempted to put the fire out before it spread to a nearby curtain and got out of hand.

The Fredonia Fire Department was notified and responded at 8:52 p.m. Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly two and a half hours before they were able to get it under control.  Fire companies from Dunkirk, East Dunkirk, Mayville, Brocton and Westfield were all called in for mutual aid.  

Hundreds of community members gathered outside the building and watched firefighters battle the blaze.

"We are just spectators from Dunkirk," said Don Gorka, who heard the fire on his police scanner before deciding to head up the street. The retired firefighter pointed out his old engine # 3 that was helping to stop the flames. 

Smoke from the fire could be seen on campus, causing many students to venture down the street to find its origin. Police officers eventually closed off the street and kept bystanders in the park across the street.

As a result of the fire, 30 residents were left without a residence, 20 of whom are SUNY Fredonia students.  The White Inn, along with the Fredonia College, offered to lodge victims displaced by the fire. The Fredonia Student Association donated $100 to each victim so they could buy clothes lost in the fire.

There are a number of ongoing efforts on and off campus to help displaced victims.  Anyone looking to help out in anyway is encouraged to call the Office of Campus Life at 673-3143.