SYRACUSE, N.Y. – On January 30, 2023, at 2:08 a.m., Syracuse Firefighters were alerted by the 911 center to a report of smoke coming from a house at 917 Valley Drive. Firefighters from Station 18 (Midland Ave.) were on the scene within minutes and found a 2-story home with heavy smoke showing. The first arriving companies also spotted a female occupant who had escaped the interior of the structure but was now trapped on the garage roof.
Firefighters arriving on scene immediately mounted a rescue operation, using ground ladders to rescue the occupant from the roof, and got her to a waiting Syracuse Fire Department ambulance. Simultaneously while the rescue was occurring, firefighters worked to stretch hose lines into the first floor, beating back heavy flames and searching for additional trapped occupants. Through heavy fire, dense smoke, and high heat conditions, firefighters were able to knock down the fire on the first floor in about 20 minutes. Crews then shifted into an overhaul mode, and spent the next 40 minutes extinguishing hotspots, and searching for further extension.
Syracuse Fire Investigators have determined the fire originated in the kitchen. They are still working to determine a cause. The occupant rescued from the garage roof was transported to a local hospital by Syracuse Fire Department Ambulance and is being treated for smoke inhalation, her condition is not known at this time.
The Syracuse Fire Department recently began a 24/7 ambulance service, staffing one Advanced Life Support ambulance. Based out of Station 3 on Bellevue Ave, they respond to reported structure fires regularly. This is the third fire this month where Syracuse Fire has transported a patient from the scene of a structure fire.
In total 36 firefighters responded this fire, including command and support staff. No other civilian injuries were reported. No firefighters were injured. The American Red Cross, Syracuse Police, National Grid, and Syracuse DPW were on the scene to assist. We thank our partners at the Onondaga County 911 Center, Syracuse Police, AMR, National Grid, DPW and the American Red Cross.