‘It’s gonna be really tough’; Multiple businesses destroyed after fire tears through block in Ovid

OVID, N.Y. — A massive fire tore through a block of businesses in Seneca County on Tuesday night, destroying a restaurant, a diner, a laundromat, offices, a supermarket, and more.

The Ovid Fire Department said in a Facebook post that all buildings must be demolished from the Big M Supermarket to the Italian Kitchen on Main Street. Some buildings completely collapsed and were still smoking into the morning.

The fire began at the Big M Supermarket around 6 p.m. and quickly spread. The fire got under control crews spent 11 hours at the scene, but businesses are dealing with the aftermath. News10NBC’s photojournalist spoke to several Ovid residents at the scene. You can hear from them in this YouTube video:

Justin Carmona, whose parents own the Italian Kitchen, said it will be a tough recovery. Only the restaurant’s walls are left standing.

“It’s gonna be really tough. We have a good amount of employees too,” he said. “We love these people. People are family. I’ve known some of these people since I was in middle school. I’ve only worked here for 7. We’ve lived here for 15 and I’ve always thought that was the best pizza restaurant in town, well before I had any involvement with the place. We know all these people, we love all these people and it’s really gonna suck.”

Other residents said the Big M was the only grocery store within 20 minutes.

“The store itself was very old school, very reliable, a very good place,” Anthony Demarco said. “The prices weren’t bad and when you’re just on a road trip or something or you live here. The people that live here, we depend on this kind of stuff every day.”

Ovid firefighters sent out a call for any available firefighters across Seneca County to help and over 200 responded. Firefighters said the sub-zero windchills made fighting the fire difficult, with crews swapping in and out using buses to prevent hypothermia. Eight hours into the battle, crews had to bring in excavators to help.

The Ovid Fire Department plans to return to the scene around 9 a.m. on Wednesday. Main Street remains closed from the library to the Community Bank, along with some other nearby areas.

“The debris continues to smolder. Smoke is still thick throughout the village. Rekindles of the debris are expected,” said the post from the fire department. “Thank you to everyone for all that you did, no matter how big or small. That is what makes our community and South End great. Neighbors helping neighbors.”

During the fire, the Seneca County Health Department issued an order mandating residents in the Village of Ovid to conserve water. The order said the village was running out of water because of how much crews needed to use to fight the fire.

The water conservation order was lifted on Wednesday afternoon.

We’re still working to learn if anyone was hurt in the fire and how it started.