Flaming Liquid Flows Like Lava After Massive Hand Sanitizer Warehouse Fire Shakes Quiet New York Town
What began as an ordinary late-summer evening in upstate New York quickly turned surreal. Residents of Gorham watched in disbelief as a trench near Dewey Avenue filled with burning liquid, glowing eerily like molten lava.
The lingering question: how could such a hazardous stockpile of flammable materials be stored just steps from a residential area, waiting for disaster?
On the night of August 30, a massive fire erupted at the 50,000-square-foot Eco Operations warehouse in Gorham, Ontario County.
The facility stored large quantities of expired hand sanitizer and other flammable products, reports Syracuse.com and Finger Lakes Daily News.
As flames engulfed the building, a dangerous and bizarre spectacle unfolded: fiery liquid streamed downhill into a nearby ditch, resembling a glowing river of lava. The Crystal Beach Fire Department posted dramatic footage the next day, captioning it bluntly: “The water was on fire.”
Gorham Town Supervisor Dale Stell explained the phenomenon: “With all the water necessary to fight the fire, combined with the hand sanitizer, there was a flow downhill into the ditch in front of the building. The sanitizer would have ignited before it reached the ditch. Because of its alcohol content, it floats on water.”
The blaze prompted a massive emergency response, involving over 40 fire departments working tirelessly to contain the inferno. Residents within three-quarters of a mile of Dewey Avenue were advised to shelter in place during the height of the fire.
Following the blaze, local officials warned the community to avoid Flint Creek downstream to the Canandaigua Outlet. Fishing, boating, and swimming were banned due to concerns over potential contamination from firefighting runoff and chemical residue.
In an August 31 statement, Gorham town officials confirmed they had been aware of the hazardous materials inside the warehouse for months and had coordinated with relevant authorities to prepare emergency measures. Thanks to these precautions, the fire was contained quickly, and no injuries were reported. However, the warehouse was declared a total loss, and a full investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
🔹 Conclusion
The haunting image of burning liquid flowing like lava through a peaceful New York town has left residents shaken and raised urgent questions about the storage of hazardous materials and emergency preparedness. Though no lives were lost, the Gorham warehouse fire is a stark reminder of the risks posed by improperly stored flammable products. For this community, it will be remembered not only as a massive blaze but as the night when water itself seemed to catch fire.