Coffee filters start fire at Batavia Dunkin' Donuts

Batavia firefighters were called to a newly opened Dunkin Donuts on Sunday night after a stack of boxes lit on fire in the rear of the store, according to the Batavia Fire Department.

Crews responded to the fire at the shop on the 2000 block of West Wilson Street at 7:59 p.m. and found a Dumpster in the rear of the building on fire.

Fire officials said an employee placed coffee filters on top of a coffee warmer, and once they began to smolder, the employee tossed them into a wastebasket. The employee then dumped the contents of the basket into garbage boxes near the shop's rear entrance, according to fire officials.

The smoldering filters ignited the boxes.

An employee who heard a sprinkler activate pulled the boxes from the room and tossed them into the Dumpster, which also set on fire, according to officials.

The incident occurred just four days after the shop opened.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the Dumpster fire but estimate structure damage inside at $350 and damage to supplies at $1,500.