SYRACUSE, N.Y. – On May 4, 2023, at 2:56 p.m., Syracuse Firefighters were dispatched by Onondaga County 911 to a possible house fire at 1613 Midland Avenue, on the City’s South Side. Firefighters from Station 8 (S. Salina St.) arrived on the scene in just over two minutes to find a two-and-a-half-story two-family home with smoke showing from the rear corner of the second floor.
Firefighters stretched hoses inside and began a systematic search of the second floor, to locate the fire and any potentially trapped victims. Flames were seen in the kitchen area of the second floor, and a Signal 99 was transmitted. Thanks to the aggressive interior attack that was initiated when they arrived, firefighters were able to achieve a quick knockdown of the fire, bringing it under control in approximately 10 minutes.
The kitchen of the second-floor apartment, where the fire is believed to have started, sustained fire, smoke, and water damage. The rest of the second-floor apartment and the first floor also sustained smoke and water damage. At least 7 occupants were displaced. The American Red Cross was requested to the scene to assist the displaced occupants.
An aggressive interior attack prevented this fire from spreading to other parts of the home, where combustible materials, such as old tires, were stored. Materials such as tires can give off extremely noxious and dangerous smoke in a fire. These items should be safely stored outside rather than in the home.
Syracuse Fire Investigators are on the scene working to determine the exact cause and origin of the fire. No injuries were sustained by Fire Personnel or civilians. A total of 44 Fire Department personnel from 5 different Syracuse Fire Stations responded to the fire, including command and support staff. Syracuse Fire Department Ambulance, Syracuse Police, National Grid, American Medical Response, and The American Red Cross also responded to the scene. We thank our partners at SPD, National Grid, AMR, and the Red Cross.