SerpApi.Org
Penfield, N.Y. (WHAM) — Daniel Bauman got a phone call from his sister early Wednesday telling him their family business, Bauman's Farm Market & Greenhouses, was on fire.
"I knew immediately," Bauman said. "I just had to get my clothes on and get down here as quick as I could."
The West Webster Fire Department said it responded to a report of a barn fire on Five Mile Line Road near Plank Road around 2:30 a.m. and found heavy fire venting through the roof of the single-story farm market.
When Bauman arrived, he was shocked by what he saw.
"The middle portion was engulfed in flames," he said. "And it hadn't spread yet to either the other barn here or the market."
The fire department said strong winds "rapidly intensified" the fire and caused it to spread, prompting a second alarm.
The Bauman family said the market's main building was destroyed, though they believe most of their greenhouses are unharmed. No injuries were reported. It was unclear what caused the fire.
"It's like losing an old friend," Bauman said. "We've been here — the family's been here — since 1908. My dad's ran it since 1984. Definitely a tremendous loss to the family."
Patty Carl was among the workers who stopped by the farm market after hearing about the fire.
"I have gotten so many phone calls from vendors that I work with, customers that know me and we've exchanged numbers through the years,' Carl said. "Everybody's devastated. Just devastated. It's not just a store, it's a home, a place to come hang out, talk."
Customers Kevin Hecht and Cathy Klein reflected on their memories of the farm market.
"They had all kinds of animals for us when we were kids," Hecht said. "They had the teepee here, all the pumpkins and everything. It was everything for us when we were kids."
"We get our pumpkins here, we got our Christmas tree here and last year we were actually in the gorgeous barn — I mean it's beautiful inside — and actually took pictures in there with our Christmas tree," Klein said.
Neighbors Ray and Anna Santana said they have frequented Bauman's since they moved to the area in 2008.
"It was my daughter’s first job when she was 15 and we know the family," Ray said. "I am sad and heartbroken."
"It's just a loving family, getting to know them, and so my heart breaks for them too," Anna said. "This is their life, has been their life forever."
In a statement on Instagram, the Bauman family said they "experienced a heartbreaking loss" and are "taking things one step at a time and assessing what comes next."
Daniel Bauman said family members, friends, workers and other farms have reached out to help.
"They just really want to lend a hand, whatever we need," he said. "Cooler space or tents, anything to help us get us back on our feet, so it's been a tremendous outpouring of love and affection."
