The City of Batavia Fire Department responded to a two alarm blaze at 13 Hutchins street a little after three on Thursday morning.
Upon arrival, a woman in her mid 50’s jumped from a second story window onto the driveway side of the house to escape heavy smoke and flames that tore through the two story apartment house.
A man in in 60’s could also be seen hanging out of a second story front window with smoke billowing around him. Captain Robert Fix says he was able to be rescued by firefighters who used a ladder to reach the window.
Both victims were transported to the hospital with serious injury according Fix. Both were conscious and alert as they were being loaded into the ambulance.
According to downstairs neighbors Willie and Michelle Kemp, who were awakened by noises upstairs and then smelled smoke, evacuated the apartment house safely, the fire is believed to have started on the north side of the house in a porch /hallway area.
Because their exit was blocked with smoke and flames, the man and woman upstairs could not get out through a door.
A rear tenant was also able to evacuate the apartment house unharmed.
An investigation into the swift moving blaze will be conducted as fire investigators are now on scene.
UPDATE:
The fire is currently under investigation by the City of Batavia Fire and Police Departments with assistance from the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control.
The City of Batavia Fire Department was assisted by the City of Batavia Police and Codes Departments, Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center, the Town of Batavia, Elba, Alexander and Oakfield Fire Departments, as well as Mercy EMS, New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, National Grid, National Fuel and the Salvation Army.