Syracuse, NY- On June 5, 2023, at 1:12 a.m., Syracuse Firefighters were alerted by the Onondaga County 911 Center to a reported fire at 263 Fellows Avenue, in Syracuse’s Westcott Neighborhood. Firefighters from Station 10, on East Genesee Street, arrived moments later to find a two-and-a-half-story home with flames showing from the side and the rear of the house. A signal ‘99’ was transmitted, indicating a working fire.
As firefighters began stretching hose lines up the hill in front of the house, they noted that a large amount of fire was showing on the exterior of the rear and side of the house. Teams of Firefighters worked to extinguish the exterior fire while other teams entered the home to cut off the fire’s extension and check the structure for trapped occupants. Due to the extent of the fire, both inside the home and on the exterior, an additional engine company was requested to the scene to assist with firefighting operations. Searches were negative; all occupants were able to escape unharmed prior to the fire department’s arrival.
Syracuse Fire Investigators have determined that the fire started after a fire in an outdoor fire pit spread to the house's exterior. This fire is a stark reminder of the importance of following established safety guidelines when utilizing approved outdoor fire devices such as grills and fire pits. Hot, dry weather can compound these safety concerns, adding more potential fuel for fire spread.
The fire took over an hour to completely extinguish. The house sustained fire damage to the exterior as well as fire, smoke, and water damage to the interior. One person was displaced as a result of the damage. There were no injuries reported to civilians or to firefighters.
A total of 44 fire personnel from seven different Syracuse Fire stations responded to this fire, including command and support staff. Syracuse Police, American Medical Response, National Grid, and The American Red Cross also responded to the scene. We thank our partners at SPD, AMR, National Grid, and the Red Cross.