Published: July 18, 2008 06:15 pm      

FIRE CALLS: Falls Fire Department reports for July 19

Niagara FallsFire Department

Calls for service

For the period of July 11-17 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 98 calls.

• FIRE: Just before 7 a.m. July 12, central alarm began to receive reports indicating smoke from an unknown source filling the air in the 900 block of Ferry Avenue. Fire units from the 10th Street Station were dispatched and found smoke coming from a vacant wood-frame dwelling. Upon investigation it was determined that someone had intentionally set fire to a couch inside the building. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire before it spread. Members of the Fire Prevention Bureau are continuing to investigate this fire.

• INCIDENT: At 7:18 p.m. Monday, fire units were dispatched to a reported shooting in the 2000 block of Lockport Street. Once the scene was secured by police, department EMTs found a victim with an apparent gunshot wound to a lower extremity. Firefighters stabilized the wound and assisted in preparing the patient for transport to a local hospital.

• ALARM: Shortly before 10 a.m. Tuesday, firefighters responded to the first of two calls this week for individuals trapped in an elevator. Firefighters using specialized equipment were able to get both of the trapped parties safely out of the elevators. Individuals trapped within an elevator should not panic and, if available, use the phone located in the elevator car to call for assistance. If the car is not equipped with a phone, use the alarm to summon assistance. At no time should individuals attempt to force open the doors as the car may suddenly begin to move and you could possible be pinned between the hoistway and the elevator car.

• INCIDENT: At 1:30 a.m. Thursday, the firefighters assigned to the Ontario Avenue fire hall were alerted to respond to a “hazardous condition” in the 800 block of Ontario Avenue. Firefighters arrived to find some type of slick substance which had been spilled on the roadway from 10th Street and Ontario Avenue all the way down to Whirlpool and Ontario avenues. Additional information confirmed that the substance was hydraulic fluid which had been spilled from a vehicle when a mechanical failure occurred. Firefighters spent the next two hours spreading absorbent material along the spill in an attempt to contain the material and minimize the hazard to the public. Firefighters used brooms to work the material into the spill and were in a race against incoming thunderstorms. Over 40 bags of absorbent material were used to contain the spilled hydraulic fluid.