Collision shop reopens after fire guts upstairs apartments
by DAVID F. SHERMAN Managing Editor

Courtesy of The Amherst Bee

Snyder firefighters Mike Cessario, left, and Tom Neuman work above the flames to ventilate the roof of one of three apartments over Amherst Collision Service, 5252 Main St. during a $420,000 blaze Friday morning. Photo by David F. Sherman Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Snyder firefighters were dispatched at 6:37 a.m. to Amherst Collision Service, 5252 Main St., after several callers reported the fire. They found heavy black smoke pouring from the building and flames coming from several upstairs windows.

Chief Tom Merrill said he sent a crew into the upstairs stairwell with a hose line, followed quickly by two search teams assigned to spread out and look for anyone who might be trapped upstairs.

"Fortunately, everyone was able to get out right away," he said. "There were some worries about an elderly man who lives in a rear apartment but he got out OK, and another tenant, who was not at home."

Main-Transit was also dispatched for a Firefighter Assist and Search Team.

Merrill called for a second alarm for fresh manpower, which brought Williamsville to the scene and filled his hall with a crew from Eggertsville. Those firefighters handled two emergency calls while Snyder was at the fire.

"I can't say enough about what they did," said Mark Schneegold, owner of Amherst Collision. "I had a '56 Chevy in there being restored and they covered it with plastic. That's unbelievable. Who does that?"

Schneegold was home when he received a call from a security company about the alarm being activated. Moments later a friend called and said the building was on fire.

"I saw all these firefighters outside setting up hoses and equipment and then they went inside. It looked really bad but in like half an hour, the fire was out. They were quick. It could have been a lot worse," he said.

Merrill said a total of six persons were upstairs in two of the three upstairs apartments. One of the tenants in the center unit smelled smoke and found a friend sleeping about 10 feet from the fire's point of origin.

About the same time, two adults and a baby living in the east apartment were awakened and escaped as well.

Merrill said the stairway leading to Main Street was the only exit, limiting the residents' path to safety.

The cause of the fire appears to be careless use of smoking materials, he said. The collision shop itself sustained only an estimated $10,000 damage.

Schneegold said the upstairs will be repaired but without apartments.

"No more tenants," he said, shaking his head in worry of what might have happened.

"The guys from Snyder and Williamsville were fantastic," he added. "I was able to get a generator to run some fans to dry out the place. The office is open."

He said customers may still drop off or pick up vehicles at the shop but work is being done off-site.

Although the firm has been part of the Amherst business community for at least 40 years, Schneegold said he was surprised at the support he has received since Friday's fire.

"I must have had 20 or 25 customers call or stop in to ask if I was OK or if I needed a truck or something," he said. "People were bringing us rigatoni and lasagna.

"So many people checked in on us. That got me right here."

Williamsville firefighters battled a second fire early Saturday morning at 34 Pasadena Place.

Acting Chief David Kubiak reported a neighbor awoke the resident at about 1:50 a.m., telling him his house was on fire.

Second Assistant Chief Michael Measer was first on location and found smoke throughout the neighborhood and flames coming from a second floor bedroom of the residence.

Officials said the origin of the fire was traced to an unattended candle. The remainder of the second floor sustained smoke and heat damage while the first floor had water damage.

Four persons were displaced. Total damage was estimated at $75,000.

Main-Transit responded with a FAST team while Eggertsville filled Williamsville's hall.