Elmira Heights, fire crews have begun to tear warehouse building down after massive fire
ELMIRA HEIGHTS, N.Y. (WENY)--Monday night as of 11 pm fire crews were still putting out the warehouse fire in Elmira Heights. They also started tearing down the building. Prescott and 14th remained closed to traffic.
Earlier in the day, the fire was raging when our reporter arrived on the scene. The building was completely engulfed in flames and it was visible from miles away.
Calls came in through the scanner at about 4:45 pm for a building completely engulfed in flames. When fire crews arrived the entire building was lit up in flames and they immediately began battling the massive fire. The blaze was no easy task for firefighters.
"We've taxed the hydrant system right now, we've got several engines running off of one or two water mains. Once we get good water supply that helps us quite a bit. But our primary concern is the water supply," Deputy Chief William Witowski for Elmire Heights Fire Department said.
This is not the first time crews were called to the former Elmira Knitting Mill warehouse for a fire. Six years ago they put out a blaze in another part of this building. Police arrested two sixteen-year-old boys and charged them with arson in that fire. Tonight's blaze happened in the remaining part of the building.
"A few years ago it was the same situation. We lost about half the building. This used to be about twice the size. And we lost half of it then. And apparently, we lost the rest of it tonight," Witowski said.
The Hesselson's owned the building for over two decades and stored most of their inventory there. However tonight Witowski spoke to Hesselson and they stated the warehouse is empty.
"It was pretty much vacant so I don't assume there was a lot of loss of property in there but again there's no way we can go in there right now, so it's going to be a while before we can really assess what happened, Witowski said.
The cause of the fire is not yet known and it may be quite sometime before that is determined.

Chemung County brings back tradition with First Annual Park Station Ice Fishing Tournament in Erin

EOP Celebrates 60 Years of Service with Diamond Jubilee Event

Day Five: Prison strike continues, negotiations expected to begin Monday

Italian American Veterans Club Up for Sale in Elmira

Staying active in the Winter by embracing local nature

'New Orleans Songbook' Preparing to take the Stage at Elmira's Clemens Center