Published: October 02, 2009 06:14 pm      

FIRE CALLS: Niagara Falls Fire Department calls for the week of Oct. 3

For the period of Sept. 25 to Oct. 1, the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 130 calls.



• INCIDENT: Shortly after 7 a.m. on Sept. 25 fire units from the Ontario Avenue station were dispatched to a residence in the 4700 block of Lewiston Road for a carbon monoxide event. The resident stated they believed the furnace of the home was malfunctioning creating a dangerous buildup of the toxic gas. Using specialized detection equipment, firefighters were able to confirm the furnace was indeed malfunctioning resulting in a gas concentration that was 15 times the acceptable level for residential occupancy. Fire department members shut down the furnace and ventilated the structure to remove the deadly gas. City residents are reminded the all homes should be equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm and that with the start of the heating season now is a good time to have your system inspected and serviced.



• ACCIDENT: The 1500 Block of Pine Avenue was the scene of an early evening vehicle accident Sept. 26 that resulted in four individuals being sent to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. Firefighters from the 10th Street station arrived, and after ensuring that the vehicles were stable, began assessing the injured parties. Additional ambulances were called to the scene as firefighters placed all four patients on backboards to prevent any additional injury to their neck and back. Traffic on Pine Avenue was affected while the Niagara Falls Police Department investigated.



• FIRE: At 8:03 a.m. Sept. 27, firefighters were sent to the 2200 block of Cleveland Avenue for a reported vehicle fire. The fire which by the time firefighters arrived had burned itself out resulted in at least $3,000 in damage to the vehicle. Fire investigators believe that some type of mechanical failure resulted in a fire that originated in the dashboard of the vehicle.



• INCIDENT: The smell of gasoline filled the air in the 600 block of Fourth Street late Monday afternoon. The smell was the result of a fuel tank that had fallen from a vehicle resulting in the spilling of the contents. Gasoline ran down the center of the alley as firefighters deployed a variety of absorbent material to control the spill. The constant threat of rain forced firefighters to work hard to keep the gasoline out of the sewer system which could have resulted in gasoline fumes migrating into basements of nearby buildings. The Department of Public Works was called to the scene to remove the contaminated material for proper disposal.



• FIRE: The stroke of midnight sent downtown fire units to the intersection of LaSalle Avenue and 13th Street for a reported fire in a vacant structure. Smoke filled the block as firefighters approached the intersection where they were confronted with flames shooting out of three windows of the two-story frame dwelling. Multiple hoselines were deployed to confront the active fire on both the first and second floors. The fire was rapidly extending to the attic area via the walls as firefighters worked aggressively to get ahead of the situation. The fire was under control within 30 minutes and Fire Investigators have determined that the fire was deliberately set.



• FIRE: The first hour of the day Thursday started with a serious fire and the day came to a close with firefighters responding at 11:01 p.m. to the 2700 block of Falls Street for a fire involving an automobile. Firefighters used hoselines to extinguish the blaze which resulted in an estimated $1,000 in damage to the vehicle.



• NOTE: Next week is Fire Prevention Week and the Niagara Falls Fire Department reminds all residents to make sure that they have a working smoke alarm on all floors of their home and that they have an escape plan in the event that a fire breaks out in their home. If your smoke alarm is more then 10 years old it should be replaced with a new one.