Published: May 16, 2008 08:01 pm      

FIRE CALLS: Falls Fire Department reports for May 17

Niagara FallsFire Department

Calls for service

For the period of May 9 to 15 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 93 calls.

• ACCIDENT: Morning traffic in the area of Pine and Walnut avenues was disrupted by a multi-vehicle accident that occurred shortly after 7:30 a.m. May 9. Initial reports indicated a serious accident occurred and a total of eight firefighters responded. On arrival, the vehicles involved were stabilized and department EMTs began to asses the patients. Niagara Falls police controlled traffic while the patients were prepared for transport to local medical facilities. All of the injuries were considered nonlife-threatening and patients were transported to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and Mount St. Mary’s Hospital.



• FIRE: At 11:38 p.m. May 9, fire units from the downtown stations were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 2400 block of LaSalle Avenue. On arrival firefighters were confronted with a well-involved fire involving a garage. Firefighter’s deployed hoselines to quickly control the fire before it could spread and cause further damage.



• INCIDENT: At 6:19 p.m. May 10, Engine 4 and Truck 1 were dispatched to the 500 block of Rainbow Boulevard for an emergency involving an elevator in a multi-story hotel. On arrival it was confirmed that at least two individuals were in the elevator which had apparently malfunctioned. After shutting off power, firefighters began the task of gaining access into the elevator car and safely removing the occupants. The elevator was removed from service and the management was instructed to have it serviced and inspected.



• FIRE: Shortly after 11 p.m. May 10, central alarm began to receive reports of a fire in a commercial building in the 1900 block of Cudaback Avenue. The onduty platoon chief was the first to arrive and saw flames shooting from the window of an apartment that was located above the business. Smoke conditions on the second floor were deteriorating and the platoon chief was able to determine that the occupants of the apartment were out of the building. Due to the apartment door being shut, the majority of the fire was confined to the apartment and did not reach the hallway. Fire units arrived and began pulling hoselines into the building, while other firefighters and police officers ordered all occupants out of the bar below. Members of the truck company arrived and began ventilation efforts as firefighters began to get water on the fire. The fire was controlled in about 15 minutes, but did cause extensive fire damage to one room and smoke damage throughout the apartment. Fire investigators believe this fire to be accidental, with damage estimates placed at $20,000.



• FIRE: A fire in the 500 block of 19th Street on Sunday, sent one occupant to the hospital. At 12:09 p.m. fire units were dispatched to a reported structure fire. On arrival firefighters observed smoke coming from a wood frame building and were told that the kitchen was on fire. The fire extended out of the kitchen and caused slight damage to the interior stairs before firefighters could declare it under control. Once again, the apparent cause was unattended cooking which caused an estimated $5,000 in damage to the building and the injury to the occupant.



• FIRE: The noon-time sky Monday in the area of the I-190 and Niagara Falls Boulevard filled with black smoke that could be seen for miles. At 12:22 p.m., firefighters were alerted to a fire in the 1100 block of Connecting Road that involved some type of trailer. Arriving fire units were confronted with a 40-foot trailer that was being cut up for salvage well-involved in fire. The trailer contained pallets and over 1,000 soles of shoes that were sold as scrap. The construction of the trailer, which contained large amounts of highly flammable insulating foam, coupled with the shoe material contributed to the large volume of smoke. Multiple hoselines were deployed and firefighters were able to contain the fire to the vehicle and its contents. The fire started when a torch, being used in the salvage operation, inadvertently ignited material in the trailer.