A minor fire that started in a dryer was quickly extinguished in the city of Dunkirk Monday afternoon.

According to the Dunkirk Fire Department, a call came in around 4:45 p.m. for the small fire located in the basement at 11 N. Gazelle St.

Initial crews found heavy smoke coming from a basement entrance to the structure. Firefighters used a one-and-three-quarter-inch line to extinguish the fire, which was contained to the dryer. Exhaust fans were used to ventilate the basement and the first floor of the house.

There were five residents of the house and all were safely out of the house upon the firefighters’ arrival. Damage was limited to the dryer and its contents. There was minimal water damage.

Crews were on the scene for about 40 minutes doing ventilation and overhaul.

New York State Police made several arrests during Thanksgiving

OBSERVER Staff Report

In an attempt to keep the roadways safe over the busy Thanksgiving Holiday period the New York State Police assigned to Troop “A” numerous traffic enforcement details.

Troop A, which covers the eight Western counties of the state, had extra troopers patrolling from Wednesday to Sunday.

The details consisted of sobriety checkpoints to target impaired drivers, underage drinking details, distracted driver details as well as speed enforcement.

Over the five-day period troopers made 13 arrests for driving while intoxicated and issued 1,346 tickets including 402 for speeding and 114 for distracted driving.

Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office

CHAUTAUQUA – James Nedwick, 54, of Stockton was charged with failure to keep right, driving while intoxicated and felony DWI on Sunday.

At 9:42 p.m. deputies, along with the Dewittville Fire Department, responded to Beech Hill Road for the report of a one-car accident. It was determined Nedwick had allegedly put his vehicle in the ditch while intoxicated. He had been previously convicted of DWI, making this charge a felony. Nedwick was released to appear in Chautauqua Town Court at a later date.

Chautauqua County Court

MAYVILLE – District Attorney David W. Foley announced the following pleas and sentences in Chautauqua County Court:

• Jeremy M. Ramsey, 35, of Frewsburg, was sentenced to 5 years determinate in state prison with 5 years post-release supervision for second-degree attempted arson.

• Carlos J. Rosado, 26, of Dunkirk, was sentenced to 2 1/2 to 5 years in state prison for third-degree burglary .

• Daniel E. Mniszewski, 44, of Silver Creek, was sentenced to 1 2/3 to 5 years in state prison for third-degree robbery.

• Rashid A. Jabbar, 29, of Jamestown, was sentenced to 90 days in jail, 5 years probation and 6 months driver’s license revocation for fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.