Syracuse, N.Y. – At 4:35 A.M. today the Syracuse Fire Department was called to 429 Westmoreland Avenue, between Lexington Avenue and East Genesee Street, for a house fire. The first units were on scene in just two minutes, and reported a very heavy volume of fire on the second floor. The power lines to the house had burned and fallen to the ground in the front yard, which created a very dangerous situation for crews attempting to make entry.
The fire quickly spread from the second floor into the attic of the two-family home. Firefighters immediately began working to extinguish the flames while simultaneously searching the first and second floor apartments for any trapped occupants. While inside, crews encountered limited visibility and a tremendous amount of heat.
It took more than 20 minutes to fully extinguish the fire, and an additional engine company had to be called to the scene for assistance. All of the occupants were able to safely exit the building prior to the fire department’s arrival. A neighboring home was damaged by the radiant heat. One firefighter was transported to Upstate University Hospital after suffering minor injuries. That firefighter was treated and released.
A total of nine residents were displaced. The local chapter of the American Red Cross will be assisting them with shelter and other needs. National Grid, the Syracuse Police Department, and AMR also responded to the incident. Members of the Fire Investigation Bureau are currently working to determine the origin and cause of the fire.
There have been 65 major structure fires in Syracuse this year.
