Batavia firefighter injured batting flames at candle factory

A Batavia firefighter suffered minor injuries Saturday night while battling a blaze at a candle factory on the city's east side.

Firefighters called to the Candle Corporation of America, 601 Kingsland Drive, at 6:55 p.m. found heavy smoke and fire in the manufacturing area of the building, Batavia Fire Department officials said.

The long distance to reach the fire, combined with the layout of large pieces of equipment and zero visibility conditions, contributed to the difficulty of extinguishing the flames, officials said.

Crews were able to control the fire in about 30 minutes, but ventilation efforts took several hours because of the size of the warehouse. Due to hazardous conditions and flammable materials in the building, the process of shutting down electrical equipment also took some time, officials said.

The fire caused significant damage to the building and its contents. A partial roof collapse above the fire area left that part of the building dangerous, according to the fire department.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, but released after treatment, according to the fire department. Several others were monitored at the scene for signs of exhaustion. All firefighters returned to duty by 1 a.m. Sunday.

Fire officials are investigating the cause and origin of the fire as well as damage estimates. Further information will be available Monday morning, the fire department said.