Syracuse, N.Y. – On February 9, 2023, at 11:16 p.m., Syracuse Firefighters were alerted by the Onondaga County 911 center to a reported fire in the area of 360 North Midler Ave. Firefighters from Engine 17 (S. Midler Ave) arrived on the scene within minutes and found a commercial structure with heavy fire and thick smoke showing. The first arriving units began to deploy hoses to put out the flames, while incoming companies put a plan in place to ensure the first arriving trucks had enough water to fight the fire. Firefighters quickly determined that no one was inside the structure and an exterior operation, one where water is flowed on the fire from outside, would be the safest option for firefighters. At one point, flames were shooting through a portion of the roof which had collapsed due to the fire, and there was concern of further collapse.
Buildings with unique features, or remote locations can present problems for firefighters during an emergency such as a fire. To combat this, firefighters will often perform a ‘pre-plan’ of the structure, where they visit the property during a normal, non-emergency situation to familiarize themselves with the property and make a plan for what to do in the event of an emergency. A pre-plan had been in place for just such a scenario at this complex and was utilized by firefighters in the early stages of this fire to facilitate a smooth operation.
An additional unit was needed to assist with this plan, and firefighters were able to bring the fire under control. Damage to the fire building was extensive, but crews were able to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby structures. The property where the fire occurred is made up of multiple single story commercial type structures located in close proximity to each other, so this was no small feat.
In total 46 personnel responded to the fire, including command and support staff. There were no reported injuries to civilians or firefighters. Syracuse Fire Investigators are still working to determine the origin and cause of the fire. Syracuse Police, National Grid, and American Medical Response also responded to the scene.
