Odor/Smoke Investigation

Outdoor Odor of Melting Plastic Reported

Town of Watertown Fire dispatched to investigate reports of an outdoor odor smelling like melting plastic. No visible fire or smoke confirmed at this time.

Closed Apr 11, 2026 u{007637} 1:19 PM Town of Watertown Fire

NY-126, Watertown, NY

Incident Report

Town of Watertown Fire units were dispatched at 1:19 p.m. to investigate reports of an outdoor odor resembling melting plastic near State Route 126 and Haddock Road in Watertown, New York, according to dispatch radio traffic. Engines 46-0-2 and 46-4-2 responded initially, with Chief 46-0-2 arriving in the area shortly after, followed by additional units including 46-0-1, 46-7-1, and 46-P39.

Responders conducted an extensive search across multiple locations, including the Slate Road overlook, State Route 12 where burning activity was noted, Golden Street Road, the Gulf area near Thompson Park, Weaver Road, Huntington intersection, and Overlook woods, as units reported over the radio. The odor was initially traced to a possible wood stove and smoky activity visible from afar, with firefighters checking residences and wooded areas; priority was briefly downgraded before escalating as strong odors persisted. Chief 46-0-2 also queried dispatch about a separate Black River brush fire as a potential contributor.

By 1:55 p.m., units pinpointed the primary source at 25401 Ridge Road, where a homeowner was burning a tree stump, responders reported. The homeowner extinguished the fire with assistance, including a water can from 46-4-2, and was advised of the burn ban. All Town of Watertown Fire units reported available at 2:04 p.m., clearing the 44-minute incident.

Dispatch Audio

Initial 1:19:41 PM

Outdoor Odor of Melting Plastic Reported

Town of Watertown Fire

Location

Incident Timeline (22 events)

Outdoor Odor of Melting Plastic Reported 1:19:41 PM

Town of Watertown Fire dispatched to investigate reports of an outdoor odor smelling like melting plastic. No visible fire or smoke confirmed at this time.

Fire, respond to the area of State Route 120 6 and Haddock Road for an outdoor odor. Color stating smells like melting plastic outdoors. For town Town and of Watertown fire, respond to the area of State Route 126 and Hetcock Road for an outdoor odor. Caller stating smells like melting plastic outdoors.

Town of Watertown units responding to odor 1:20:14 PM

46-0-2 and 46-4-2 en route to outdoor melting plastic odor on SR 126 at Haddock Rd.

1:20:07 PM JE Dispatch Town Watertown fire, respond to the area of State Route 126 and Haddock Road for an outdoor odor. Color stating smells like melting plastic outdoors. Repeting for Tom and Watertown fire response to the area of State Route 126 and Haddock Road for an outdoor odor. Collar stating smells like melting plastic outdoors.

1:20:14 PM JE 46-0-2 Yeah. Fire 4602, is en route.

1:20:18 PM JE Dispatch 4602 responding 13 20.

1:20:35 PM JE 46-4-2 Jefferson 4642 is en route.

1:20:39 PM JE Dispatch 40 64 2 responding 13 20.

Odor call: caller at residence, not on scene 1:21:14 PM

46-0-2 asks if caller waiting in area for odor investigation. Dispatch: caller at residence, doesn't want callback, not on scene.

1:21:14 PM JE 46-0-2 Jeff, fire forty six zero two.

1:21:16 PM JE Dispatch 4602.

1:21:21 PM JE 46-0-2 Is the caller gonna be waiting in the area?

1:21:34 PM JE Dispatch Caller's gonna be at her residence. Doesn't wanna call back. Not on scene.

1:21:38 PM JE 46-0-2 Crazy. Thank you.

Town of Watertown Chief in area 1:25:17 PM

46-0-2 in the area for outdoor odor investigation.

1:25:17 PM JE 46-0-2 Yeah. Fire forty six zero two is in the area.

1:25:20 PM JE Dispatch 1325.

Odor search negative, priority downgraded 1:25:54 PM

46-0-2 searching Haddock St area, nothing found. 46-0-1 en route up SR 126. 46-4-2 priority downgraded en route to square.

1:25:41 PM JE 46-0-2 Zero two to zero one on ops.

1:25:46 PM JE 46-0-1 2601.

1:25:54 PM JE 46-0-2 Yeah, Joe. I'm going down Hattock Street right now. I'm not finding anything right off the bat.

1:25:59 PM JE 46-0-1 Received. I'm just coming up the state.

1:26:03 PM JE 46-0-2 36.

1:26:16 PM JE 46-4-2 42201. Do you want us to downgrade? We're coming to the square now.

1:26:20 PM JE 46-0-1 Yeah. You can downgrade the priority bill.

1:26:22 PM JE 46-4-2 Read it.

46-7-1 en route 1:31:39 PM

46-7-1 responding to outdoor odor investigation.

1:31:39 PM JE 46-7-1 Jeffrey, 40 6 seven zero.

1:31:44 PM JE Dispatch 40 67 1 responding 1331.

Town of Watertown 46-4-2 on scene 1:33:25 PM

46-4-2 in the area.

1:33:25 PM JE 46-4-2 Jefferson 4642 in the area.

1:33:31 PM JE Dispatch 4642 in the area 1333.

Town Fire searches Slate Road overlook 1:34:27 PM

46-4-2 checking area overlooking Slate Road for odor source.

1:34:17 PM JE 46-4-2 4201.

1:34:22 PM JE 46-0-1 P Go ahead.

1:34:27 PM JE 46-4-2 We're gonna check overlooking Slate Road, see if we can find anything over here.

1:34:31 PM JE 46-0-1 P Received.

Odor traced to Rt 12 burning 1:35:28 PM

46-4-2 reports odor on upper Slate Road carrying from burning activity on Rt 12; smoke still visible from overlook.

1:35:28 PM JE 46-4-2 4601, we do have an odor over here on the upper end of Slate Road. I believe it's just carrying from the person that is burning whatever they're burning over on 12.

1:35:35 PM JE 46-0-1 P Did you see somebody burning burning on twelve?

1:35:40 PM JE 46-4-2 We did earlier today. Yes. When we were headed up to Station 1.

1:35:46 PM JE 46-4-2 Believe I can still see the smoke from here.

1:35:54 PM JE 46-4-2 Yeah. That's affirmative. That's gonna be on twelve. We can see the smoke from plate.

1:35:59 PM JE 46-0-1 Received.

Town Fire cuts lights on odor investigation 1:36:59 PM

46-0-2 advises 7-1 to cut lights on odor scene. Acknowledged by P39.

1:36:59 PM JE 46-0-2 7 one, you can cut your lights.

1:37:04 PM JE 46-P39 Very good.

Town Fire checks Rt 12 burn for odor source 1:37:58 PM

46-0-2 checked the odor area and en route to State Route 12 for possible outdoor burn as odor source.

1:37:45 PM JE 46-0-2 Jet fire forty six zero two.

1:37:47 PM JE Dispatch 4602.

1:37:58 PM JE 46-0-2 Hey, guys. We checked the area. We're en route over to State Route 12 area for a possible outdoor burn. That could be where the odor is coming from.

1:37:59 PM JE Dispatch Copy.

Odor search checks Golden Rd, Gulf, Weaver 1:40:32 PM

46-4-2 suspects odor from Golden Street Rd house, no active burn seen. 46-0-2 suggests Gulf area illegal burn near Thompson Park; 46-0-1 directs 71 to Weaver Rd. No source located yet.

1:39:50 PM JE 46-4-2 It may be on Golden Street Road. That house is no longer burning anything that we saw that.

1:40:06 PM JE 46-0-1 When you guys were up on Overlook, did you see anything?

1:40:16 PM JE 46-4-2 Oh, we couldn't see anything on Overlook. We had a really clear picture, up on Slate at that intersection, just kinda down the road a little bit.

1:40:32 PM JE 46-0-2 If it's coming from Gulf, then it could be that gentleman that burns every year illegally that's butts up against Thompson Park.

1:40:52 PM JE 46-0-1 Four, did you two, did you come off East Colton?

1:41:01 PM JE 46-4-2 Yeah. We came off there. We took overlook over to check overlook. We didn't find anything there. So my guess is it's up.

1:41:12 PM JE 46-P39 Seven one can head up Baltimore if you'd like us.

1:41:24 PM JE 46-0-1 Seven one, just run down Weaver Road.

1:41:28 PM JE 46-P39 33.

1:41:41 PM JE 46-0-2 01. That house sits far back on the right hand side, almost across from our toll house.

1:41:44 PM JE 46-0-1 Received.

Odor search final check Weaver, then clear 1:44:31 PM

46-4-2 negative up to liquor sales. 46-0-1 assigns 71 to check Weaver then clear.

1:44:17 PM JE 46-4-2 We're negative up to a liquor sales this time.

1:44:31 PM JE 46-0-1 Received. We'll have seven one check Weaver and then we'll clear.

1:44:34 PM JE 46-4-2 Yep.

46-4-2 checks Overlook woods for odor 1:45:59 PM

46-4-2 heading back to Overlook for strong odor detected there, suspects possible source up in the woods.

1:45:59 PM JE 46-4-2 Four two's gonna head back to Overlook. We had a very strong order over there. The only thing we can take is that maybe up in the woods on Overlook.

Strong odor at Weaver/Huntington 1:46:46 PM

46-P39 reports strong odor at Weaver and Huntington. 46-0-2 en route to location, 46-0-1 heading to Overlook with engine.

1:46:35 PM JE 46-P39 7101.

1:46:40 PM JE 46-0-1 4601.

1:46:46 PM JE 46-P39 On the corner of Weaver And Huntington, and we got a real strong order on this side.

1:46:57 PM JE 46-0-1 Receiving center at Weaver and Hunting.

1:47:00 PM JE 46-P39 Richard.

1:47:05 PM JE 46-0-1 Received.

1:47:20 PM JE 46-0-1 02, do you wanna go to that area, and I'll go back up on the overlook with the engine?

1:47:24 PM JE 46-0-2 Affirmative.

1:47:39 PM JE 46-0-2 I'll go down Hunt Street and over to their location.

1:47:46 PM JE 46-0-1 Received.

Odor confirmed on scene 1:50:15 PM

46-0-1 confirms odor detected right there on scene. 46-4-2 approaching from left.

1:50:15 PM JE 46-0-1 Yeah. You're smelling right there.

1:50:24 PM JE 46-4-2 I'll come to the left as a.

Odor from wood stove 1:50:51 PM

46-0-1 identifies odor source as wood stove.

1:50:51 PM JE 46-0-1 That's coming out of a wood stove.

Odor found by white truck, checking Ridge Road 1:53:44 PM

46-0-2 detects odor by white truck, checking further up Ridge Road.

1:53:44 PM JE 46-0-2 7 1. I caught the odor too by that white truck, but I'm gonna go up and check further up Ridge Road.

Odor source: tree stump burn at 25401 Ridge Rd 1:55:33 PM

46-P39 locates odor source at 25401 Ridge Road; subject burning tree stump. 46-0-1 reports possible wood stove at second house on Overlook as initial source. 46-0-2 redirects to Ridge Road location.

1:54:48 PM JE 46-0-2 02 to zero 1.

1:54:50 PM JE 46-0-1 01.

1:55:08 PM JE 46-0-2 We're getting an order on Ridge Road, but then it disappears. I got seven one checking the walking trail, and I am on Ridge Road going up to Hancock and checking the area. Nothing seen so far. Just the order.

1:55:22 PM JE 46-0-1 Received. We did have, like, the second house on the, right on Overlook. They're burning in their wood stove. That might be our initial call.

1:55:33 PM JE 46-P39 71202. We found the location. It's 25401 Ridge Road.

1:55:38 PM JE 46-0-2 Received. I'll turn back around.

1:55:43 PM JE 46-4-2 14 direct. You want that over there?

1:55:49 PM JE 46-0-2 That's affirmative.

1:55:52 PM JE 46-4-2 Three piece.

1:55:57 PM JE 46-P39 All he's doing is burning a tree stump.

Chief links odor to Black River brush fire 1:56:58 PM

46-0-2 queries dispatch on Black River brush fire dispatch, suggesting it could be the odor source or contributing.

1:56:58 PM JE 46-0-2 02201. Did you copy that dispatch from Black River? That could be our source or some of it as well.

Odor source found, homeowner extinguishing 1:58:32 PM

46-0-2 located odor source; homeowner extinguishing smoky tree stump burn. 46-0-1 returning to Station 1 for cleanup. 46-4-2 requested to bring water can.

1:57:52 PM JE 46-4-2 Are you guys gonna be East of Weaver Road towards Hancock, or are you back towards the city?

1:57:57 PM JE 46-P39 More back towards the city.

1:58:00 PM JE 46-4-2 Repeat.

1:58:32 PM JE 46-0-2 P 02 to 01. We found the locate

1:58:39 PM JE 46-0-1 Received. Do you need me over there or not?

1:58:45 PM JE 46-0-2 P Negative. The homeowner's putting it out, but it's still a little smoky.

1:58:52 PM JE 46-0-1 Received. I'll, head back over to Station 1. Clean up from there. But

1:58:58 PM JE 46-0-2 P Received. 42, can you just bring a can?

Odor source extinguished, 46 available 2:03:58 PM

46-0-2 reports outdoor burn at 25401 Ridge Road extinguished by homeowners, advised of burn ban, units available.

2:03:44 PM JE 46-0-2 Jeff, fire channel, alert on command.

2:03:46 PM JE Dispatch Channel waters on command.

2:03:58 PM JE 46-0-2 Be advised, the outdoor burn was at 25401 Ridge Road. Homeowners extinguished the fire and was advised that the burn ban shut down and water come back in service.

2:04:01 PM JE Dispatch Showing you available 1403.

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Outdoor Odor of Melting Plastic Reported

Incident Report

Dispatch Audio

Location

Incident Timeline (22 events)

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