Syracuse, NY- On Thursday, July 11, 2024, at 2:21 p.m., Syracuse Firefighters were alerted by the Onondaga County 911 Center to a fire alarm activation at 151 Ballantyne Road, the Ballantyne Garden Apartments. A short telephone alarm, consisting of One Engine Company, One Truck Company, and One District Chief, was dispatched to the scene to investigate. When they arrived moments later, firefighters from Engine 18 on Midland Ave. and Truck 8 on South Salina St. reported seeing smoke coming from windows on the third floor of the three-story apartment building. Firefighters requested dispatchers to ‘fill the assignment’—meaning send more resources to the alarm and hurried to investigate the source of the smoke. As crews made their way to the third floor, they encountered thick, black smoke banking down to the floor, and increasing heat in the public hallway. A signal ‘99’ was transmitted, indicating a working fire.
The first arriving units continued to make their way toward the source of smoke and heat, with a charged hose line in tow. As additional units arrived at the scene, firefighters moved more hoses into the building. Hose teams located the fire in a third-floor apartment and flowed water to extinguish the flames. Teams of firefighters also began searches of the entire building, starting in the apartment where the fire was located, and working their way outward, checking for trapped occupants. Crews worked to clear smoke from the building. Exhaustive searches were negative. Any occupants inside had escaped prior to the Fire Department’s arrival. The fire was declared out after approximately 50 minutes.
An apartment on the third-floor sustained fire, smoke, and water damage. Other parts of the third floor, as well as parts of the first and second floors also sustained smoke and water damage. In total, three apartments in the building were severely affected by the fire. At least one occupant was displaced, however they were able to find accommodation elsewhere. Syracuse Fire Investigators at the scene have determined that the fire originated in a third-floor apartment and was caused by smoking materials. There were no injuries reported to civilians or to Fire Department personnel.
A total of 44 Fire Department personnel responded to this incident, including command and support staff. Syracuse Fire Department Ambulance, Syracuse Police, American Medical Response, National Grid, and the American Red Cross also responded to the scene.
