Industrial Structure Fire: Elmira Heights and Mutual Aid Contain Oil Pump Fire at Hardinge Brothers

ELMIRA HEIGHTS, NY — Firefighters and environmental remediation teams converged on an industrial manufacturing facility Saturday morning, quickly suppressing a machinery fire that produced heavy smoke and triggered a major oil spill.

At approximately 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, the Elmira Heights Fire Department was dispatched to the Hardinge Brothers facility for a reported commercial structure fire.

Chief Unit 701 arrived first on location, reporting heavy smoke conditions pushing from the industrial building. Engine 731 arrived moments later, and the crew rapidly advanced an interior attack handline into the structure. Operating in coordination with the facility's active automated fire suppression system, firefighters were able to swiftly knock down and fully extinguish the fire.

An initial investigation determined that the fire was sparked by a malfunctioning oil pump, which led to a substantial oil release across the operating area.

Due to the scale of the facility and the hazardous materials involved, mutual aid was requested from the Horseheads Fire/Rescue Department and the Horseheads Town and Country Fire Department to assist with scene operations and building ventilation.