Two Fires in 24 Hours, Firefighters Remove Unconscious Victim from Oak Street Apartment
Syracuse, N.Y. – In the past 24 hours, the Syracuse Fire Department has responded to 78 emergency calls. Two of those calls were reported structure fires, one of which involved the rescue of an unconscious victim. At 8:50 A.M. on October 24th, firefighters were called to 525 Oak Street, between James Street and Highland Avenue, for a fire in an apartment building. The first units were on scene in less than three minutes, and reported smoke issuing from a third-floor apartment. After forcing entry, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and zero visibility. They immediately began an intensive search for any trapped occupants. They quickly located an unconscious male on the floor. The victim was removed from the apartment and immediately treated by firefighters and paramedics from AMR. He was transported to Upstate University Hospital. His condition is not currently known. The heavy smoke condition was attributed to unattended cooking. No other apartments were affected, and no other injuries were reported. The Syracuse Police Department also responded to the scene. At 8:22 A.M. Oct. 25th, firefighters were called to 101 Thurgood Terrace, between South State Street and Croton Terrace, for a reported structure fire. The first units were on scene in less than two minutes. Firefighters immediately began working to extinguish the blaze while simultaneously searching for any trapped occupants. It was quickly determined that everyone had made it out prior to the fire department’s arrival. The apartment had working smoke detectors. It took approximately 15 minutes to extinguish the fire, and the damage to the apartment was significant. One occupant, an adult female, was treated at the scene for minor injuries. She was not transported to the hospital. There were no other injuries reported. Members of the Fire Investigation Bureau are currently working to determine the origin and cause of the fire. The local chapter of the American Red Cross will be assisting the displaced occupants with temporary shelter and other needs. AMR, National Grid, and the Syracuse Police Department also responded to the scene.
