OVID, NY (607NewsNow) — Ovid’s fire chief has a simple message: “thank you.”

Chief Timothy Westlake says the expression ‘it takes a village’ now means something new to him after Tuesday’s devastating block fire on Main Street and efforts to donate supplies and support. Westlake has also expressed thanks to the various fire chiefs who sent firefighters to help, 911 dispatchers, and to his wife Mary for her ‘overwhelming understanding.’

Ovid firefighters spent nearly 12 hours fighting the blaze, which is reportedly still smoldering.