After observing several barriers put into place at the former site of Baskin Livestock at 20 Howard Street last week, the City of Batavia Fire Chief, Joshua Graham, has advised the owner of safety concerns with the placement of the barriers and has sent them a letter about the issue.
In his letter to owner Bill Baskin, Graham says the numerous physical barriers put in place restrict all vehicle access to the property and the Graham Manufacturing building.
“These obstructions raise significant public safety concerns. There is no access to the rear of 20 Howard
Street. At present, there is no access to the south side—and now the east side—of the structure. In the
unfortunate event of an emergency such as a fire, responding fire department apparatus would be unable
to reach a substantial portion of the building,” Chief Graham stressed in his letter.
The Chief also has concerns about machinery related incidents that could possibly occur or medical emergencies.
“Should a machinery-related incident occur requiring technical rescue or extrication—particularly one involving specialized tools—our crews could be forced to hand-carry equipment, significantly delaying critical interventions. Additionally, in the case of a medical emergency within the blocked areas, these barriers would hinder our ability to bring emergency medical personnel and equipment close to the patient, and could delay the transport process for EMS units.”
Graham says the barriers will cause a delayed emergency response.
“Time is a critical factor in both life-saving measures and effective property conservation.
Therefore, the City of Batavia respectfully requests that the barriers be relocated or modified in a manner
that allows for emergency vehicle access to all areas of 20 Howard Street and all sides of the Graham’s
structure, in the interest of public safety.”
