South Hornell Volunteer Fire Department Fire Investigation

SOUTH HORNELL, NY (WETM) – 18 News has confirmed that a fire at the South Hornell Volunteer Fire Department that damaged portions of the station is under investigation. Fire Chief Matt Donovan says the fire started in a trash can outside the building at 6233 Crittenden Road just after 2 p.m. Friday.

According to Police Chief Donovan, the fire spread to the wall and roof. The flames damaged the station’s office and meeting room, but no fire engines or equipment were damaged. No one was injured.

According to Police Chief Donovan, no firefighters were on the scene 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 city of Hornell quickly brought the fire under control. In less than two hours, Donovan said, the fire department was back in action. Donovan says a Steuben County fire investigation team is currently investigating the cause of the fire.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, the South Hornell Fire Company announced that it had received a $1,000 donation from the Fremont Volunteer Fire Department. The post said: “The word brotherhood comes to mind when the chief of the Fremont Fire Department called and said his department would be happy to assist our department with the recent fire in our briefing room.“