The Seneca County Sheriff and Ovid's fire chief say a devastating fire was caused by a power bank device that was plugged in and charging up.
Sheriff Timothy Johnson says a woman living in one of the apartments above the Big M Market noticed the device smoking, so she gathered up her children and fled.
Ovid Fire Chief Timothy Westlake says fighting the fire drew down the village's water tank to critical levels.
On top of that was the bitter low temperature, which froze water and equipment alike.
Fire crews were on scene for more than nine hours fighting the blaze, which claimed an entire block of the village downtown.