Syracuse, NY– On Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at 2:52 p.m., Syracuse Firefighters were alerted by the Onondaga County 911 Center to a reported possible fire in the 700 block of North Alvord Street, on the City’s North Side. A passerby had phoned 911 to report smoke coming from a building in the area. Firefighters from Station 2, on Lodi Street, arrived on the scene at 708 N. Alvord St. moments later and reported heavy smoke coming from the windows on a one-story section of a two-story home. A signal ‘99’ was transmitted, indicating a working fire.
Firefighters immediately went to work moving hoses into the structure and beginning systematic searches of the building. Additional units arrived on scene shortly after the first due companies, and additional hose teams and search teams went to work. Crews located the fire in a first-floor room in a one-story section of the home. They were able to knock the bulk of the fire down in approximately 10 minutes and prevented the flames from spreading past the room of origin. Searches were negative. Two occupants who were at home when the fire began were able to escape the building prior to the Fire Department’s arrival. Crews transitioned to an ‘overhaul’ operation, which involved opening holes in walls and ceilings to ensure there was no hidden fire spread. Firefighters also used large fans to remove smoke from the building. The fire was declared out after approximately 30 minutes.
The first floor, where the fire began, sustained fire, smoke, and water damage. The second floor also sustained smoke and water damage. Firefighters cut a hole in the roof to assist with ventilation of smoke and other products of combustion. Syracuse Fire Investigators at the scene have determined that the fire was intentionally set. The home consisted of two apartments, which were both occupied. Five occupants were displaced by this fire. They are being assisted by the Red Cross. There were no injuries reported to civilians or to Fire Department personnel.
A total of 41 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.
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