Published: July 03, 2009 10:52 pm      

FIRE CALLS: July 4, 2009

Niagara Falls

Fire Department

Calls for service

For the period of June 19 to July 2 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 219 calls.

• INCIDENT: At 4:02 a.m. June 20, firefighters from the 10th Street station were alerted to an elevator emergency in a high-rise residential structure located in the 700 block of 10th Street. Arriving firefighters first secured the electrical service to the elevator car. This prevented the accidental operation of the car while the rescue was in progress. Firefighters were able to locate the trapped party and, with the power being removed, were able to safely remove the occupants from the malfunctioning elevator car. The elevator was placed out of service and building management was instructed to have it repaired by a qualified contractor.

• INCIDENT: Just before dusk June 21, fire units were alerted to respond to the area around Goat Island for a report of a “boater in trouble.” It was reported that a boater was having a difficult time coming to shore and the possibility existed that they may drift down the rapids and over the falls. This is the second time in the past month that individuals in boats have experienced difficulty while in the upper river and were in danger of being swept down river. In the previous incident, firefighters and park police commandeered a privately owned vessel and were able to get the individual safely to shore. In this incident, the boat was able to get to shore under its own power.

• FIRE: A guest in a motel in the 5900 block of Niagara Falls Boulevard was awakened at 1:22 a.m. June 24 by the sound of the bathroom ceiling light falling to the floor. The guest immediately noticed a small amount of smoke and called for assistance. On arrival, firefighters found a fire that was extinguished using portable extinguishers. One firefighter was sent into the attic to see if the fire spread and discovered the blaze, which apparently had smoldered for some time, had actually charred some of the structural elements of the roof assembly. The device had apparently overheated and started a small fire that burned undetected (smoke alarms are not required in the ceiling) in the void space until the connections failed and sent the device crashing to the floor. Damage was minimal and investigators of the Fire Prevention Bureau are consulting with the Consumer Product Safety Commission on this incident.

• FIRE: The members of Platoon One found themselves responding to another reported fire in a motel June 25. This incident was reported at 4:33 a.m. in the 6800 block of Niagara Falls Boulevard. Fire units from the 72nd Street station made the left on the boulevard and were greeted with an orange glow in the sky. They arrived to find a storage shed in the rear of the property completely involved in fire. Handlines were deployed and the fire was able to be extinguished before it was able to spread to the main building. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.

• ACCIDENT: The afternoon sky grew dark June 25 and the winds began to pick up as Mother Nature fixed her sights on Niagara Falls. At 1:50 p.m., fire units responded to the 2500 block of Jerauld Avenue for a reported house struck by lightning. Bricks littered the driveway and light smoke could be seen where the roof meets the chimney. A water supply was established using the hydrant across the street and hoselines were deployed into the building. The smoke began to intensify as firefighters assigned to Truck One deployed a ladder to gain access to the roof. Firefighters on the interior reported no heat or visible flame as fire began to show on the exterior. The roof and ceiling were quickly opened up and the fire, which was in a void space created by knee walls, was able to be extinguished. Residents reminded that if their home is struck by lightening that they should always contact the fire department to make sure that fire is not burning in attics and void spaces within the home.

• FIRE: A resident in the 2800 block of McKoon Avenue awoke to the smell of smoke just after 2:30 a.m. June 26. After quickly checking his home, he determined the source of the smoke was outside and looked down the street to see a fire on the second story porch of a neighbor’s home. Running down the street he banged on the neighbors door to alert the occupants to the fire. By this time the fire had rapidly intensified and now fully involved the porch and was extending into the second floor living space. The occupants had no time to get dressed and were forced into the night and onto the street in nothing but their underwear. Firefighters arriving from the Ontario Avenue station found the majority of the second floor completely involved in fire, with the fire rapidly extending to the third floor. To further complicate the situation, live wires were down across the road presenting an additional hazard to firefighters and bystanders. Multiple hoselines were deployed and additional assistance from all on-duty resources was needed to prevent the fire from spreading to other homes and to completely extinguish the blaze. Mutual aid assistance from Niagara County provided coverage to the remainder of the city until units could be released from the fire scene. Investigators from the Fire Prevention Bureau have determined that careless smoking on the exterior porch was the cause of the fire. Damage estimates have been placed at $25,000 and the Red Cross was contacted to assist the displaced occupants.

• FIRE: An electrical fire caused more than $25,000 in damage to a home in the 400 block of Fifth Street. Shortly after 9:15 p.m. June 27, firefighters responded and found smoke and a fire coming from the upper levels of the structure. Hoselines were deployed to combat the blaze while ventilation removed the heat and toxic gases from the building. Before the fire was able to be extinguished it destroyed the second floor and spread into the attic. Due to the amount of damage and apparent electrical issues, a representative from the city Building and Inspections Department was requested to respond.

• FIRE: The 700 block of Ashland Avenue was the scene of an automobile fire that was reported at 12:44 a.m. Monday. A passerby noticed flames coming from 1996 Infinity and when firefighters arrived the entire vehicle was involved in fire. Rapid deployment of hoselines confined the fire to the automobile. Fire investigators continue to investigate this fire.

• NOTE: Each summer the Niagara Falls Fire Department responds to numerous incidents that involve the use of “fire pits” and other outside fires. The smoke produced by these devices can be perceived by your neighbors to be a nuisance and when the fire department is made aware that such a device is in operation, it will order the user to extinguish the fire. Local, as well as state ordinances, address the issue of nuisance smoke and it is the obligation of not just the fire department but also the police department to enforce such ordinances. Individuals who fail to comply with an order to extinguish will be served a summons for a court appearance.

• NOTE: The Niagara Falls Fire Department reminds all residents that the possession and use of all types of fireworks is illegal in New York state. Each year hospital emergency rooms fill up due to accidents involving illegal fireworks. We encourage all residents to come to Hyde Park this evening at 9:45 p.m. to see the city-sponsored fireworks display.