Interagency Effort Subdues Village of Spencer Fire: Over a Dozen Departments Mobilize Across Three Counties

Tompkins, NY - Firefighters from more than a dozen emergency agencies across Tompkins, Tioga, and Chemung counties mobilized Friday afternoon to battle a major commercial structure fire on North Main Street in the Village of Spencer.

At approximately 12:36 p.m. on September 11, 2026, the West Danby Fire Department was requested on mutual aid by the Spencer Fire Department for a working commercial fire at 15 North Main Street. Responding within two minutes of the alarm, Lieutenant Shawn Wendt (1481) and Assistant Chief Ken VanEtten (1462) headed to the scene, followed closely by Tanker 1421.

Upon arrival, Assistant Chief VanEtten established Tompkins Command to direct and coordinate the massive influx of mutual aid apparatus and personnel converging on the scene from three separate counties.

Tanker 1421 was assigned to dedicated water supply operations at Nichols Pond, maintaining continuous drafting and relay pumping operations for the duration of the incident to feed multiple elevated aerial master streams and interior/exterior attack engines working the fireground.

The large-scale operation brought together extensive mutual aid resources, including Spencer Fire Company, Spencer Ambulance, Bangs Ambulance, Newfield Fire Co., Danby Volunteer Fire Company, Community Fire & Rescue Dept 24, Candor Fire Department, Lockwood Fire Department, Halsey Valley Fire Department, Tioga Center Fire Department, Waverly-Barton Fire Department, Campville Fire Department, Weltonville Fire Department, and Newark Valley Fire Department.