Six People Displaced Following Fire on Riverdale Drive
Published on September 08, 2024
Syracuse, NY- On Sunday, September 8, 2024, at 8:07 p.m., Syracuse Firefighters were alerted by the Onondaga County 911 Center to a reported fire at 225 Riverdale Drive. The report from the occupant of the structure was that the fire was in the kitchen of the second-floor apartment. Firefighters from Station 18 on Midland Ave arrived moments later to find a two-story-wood-frame multiple-family home with smoke coming out the open front door. Less than two minutes later, the smoke was getting thicker and pushing from multiple openings on the second floor. The Incident Commander immediately transmitted a signal ‘99’, indicating a working fire.
As teams of firefighters moved hoses to the second floor, they encountered blinding smoke. As the initial hose team made their way to the rear of the second floor, other teams of firefighters started systematically searched the entire building for victims and additional fire. Crews were able to quickly get water on the fire and stop it from spreading beyond the kitchen. Search teams were able to confirm that all of the occupants were able to escape prior to the Fire Department’s arrival. A hole was cut in the structure's roof to remove heat and smoke. The fire was knocked down after approximately 10 minutes and deemed out approximately 20 minutes from the time of dispatch. Crews remained on the scene for over an hour, clearing smoke from the building, picking up, and assisting the fire investigator.
The fire occurred in the kitchen of the second-floor apartment. The second-floor apartment suffered fire, smoke, and water damage. The first-floor apartment sustained some water damage. Six occupants were displaced by the fire and are being assisted by the American Red Cross. The fire started in the stove in the kitchen on the second floor due to unattended cooking. There were no injuries reported to civilians or to Fire Department personnel.
A total of 37 Fire Department Personnel responded to this incident, 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 the 911 Center, SPD, AMR, National Grid, and the Red Cross.
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