Firefighters Extinguished Rochester School Blaze
A second-alarm fire damaged the vacant former Nathaniel Hawthorne School No. 25 on North Goodman Avenue.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Emergency Response
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Emergency crews responded to a fire at the former Nathaniel Hawthorne School No. 25 in Rochester after a passerby reported smoke at 6 p.m. The blaze was contained to the building's second floor within 20 minutes, and no injuries were reported.
Why it matters
The incident drew significant emergency resources to the vacant city-owned property, highlighting ongoing safety concerns regarding abandoned buildings in the area. Authorities are now working to determine the cause of the fire through local surveillance.
Firefighters brought the second-alarm blaze under control in just 20 minutes after arriving at the scene. The fire was primarily isolated to the second floor of the vacant structure.
The players
Nathaniel Hawthorne School No. 25
This is a former educational facility in Rochester that has been closed to students for several years.
The details
A passerby alerted emergency services after observing smoke emanating from the facility on North Goodman Avenue. No individuals were found inside the school, which has remained closed for several years.
Timeline
The fire was reported at approximately 6 p.m. on September 30, 2026.
Seasonal Patterns
This fire follows a series of municipal efforts aimed at improving security protocols for abandoned properties throughout Rochester as established by the 2024 Rochester city policy on vacant building security.
Residents should report any suspicious activity or signs of entry at vacant buildings to local authorities immediately. Emergency services advise the public to avoid the area near North Goodman Avenue while the investigation continues.
The takeaway
Securing vacant properties remains a critical challenge for urban fire prevention and public safety in Rochester. The prompt response by city fire crews prevented the blaze from spreading to neighboring structures on North Goodman Avenue.
Further reading
For more information on local incident reports, visit the Rochester Emergency Response section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WHAM.
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