Damaged town vehicles sit outside the Irondequoit Department of Public Works building.
IRONDEQUOIT — A massive Christmas Eve fire in a Rochester suburb heavily damaged the Irondequoit Department of Public Works building, as well as some of the department’s snow removal and sanitation vehicles.
CSEA represents more than 100 workers employed by the town, including the Department of Public Works.
No one was injured in the fire, which was reported around 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Irondequoit Town Supervisor Dave Seeley told local media that the fire, initially found on the building’s roof, quickly spread and all five Irondequoit fire departments were called to the scene. Firefighter units from neighboring towns were also called in to assist. The building houses the town’s fleet of highway department vehicles including snow plows and sanitation trucks.
The building is adjacent to the town hall and library, but the flames were contained to the Department of Public Works facility.
Local news stations reported that damages to the 100-year-old building and town equipment are estimated to total millions of dollars. Seeley told local media the equipment and building are insured, but he was mainly concerned about the safety of the firefighters, who remained on the scene into the morning.
“It’s terrible to have to see this happen, but more terrible to have to see our firefighters spend their Christmas Eve doing this,” Seeley told a local news station. “Many of our firefighters are actually highway department employees, so it’s ironic that they’re working here. They certainly know the building and this building means a lot to them.”
Town employees who were scheduled to work the day after the observed Christmas holiday were told to report as usual. Town and union officials are meeting in the days to come to discuss next steps to ensure public services are not interrupted.
“Our hearts go out to the families and town residents who are affected by this tragedy,” CSEA Western Region President Flo Tripi said. “We are thankful no one was injured or harmed while fighting this fire. CSEA stands ready to assist our town partners and employees in every possible way.”
Town workers survey the damage.
Monroe County and several adjoining towns are offering assistance to the Town of Irondequoit while they get their operations center and fleets back to working order.
