SYRACUSE, N.Y. – On Sunday, June 16th, 2024, at 6:10 a.m., Syracuse Firefighters were alerted by the Onondaga County 911 Center to a reported structure fire at 229 East Colvin Street. Firefighters from Station 8, on South Salina Street, arrived on the scene two minutes and thirty seconds later to find a large two-and-a-half-story, multiple-family home, with heavy fire showing from a porch on the second floor. The flames and smoke were spreading into the home on the second floor and attic, and people at the scene reported that there were possibly occupants still inside. A signal ‘99’ was declared, indicating a working structure fire.
Crews initiated an aggressive interior fire attack. The first arriving crews began to stretch hoses into the building. Teams of firefighters from additional arriving crews began systematic searches of the large building, checking for any trapped occupants. As firefighters made their way to the second floor, they encountered heavy flames and zero visibility. The main body of the fire was knocked down quickly, and searches were completed. Searches were negative; all the occupants of the apartments in the building were able to escape prior to the Fire Department’s arrival. At one point, fire on the exterior of the building was in danger of spreading to the attic of the home. Additional resources were called to the scene and crews stretched hoses to the attic to extinguish the fire inside, while a separate team of firefighters extinguished the flames on the exterior. A hole was cut in the roof to help release trapped smoke and heat. The fire was declared completely out after approximately 30 minutes.
The second-floor apartment where the fire began, and the attic above, sustained fire, smoke, and water damage. A portion of the roof of a second-floor porch collapsed due to the damage. The first floor of the home also sustained smoke and water damage. Three adults and one child were displaced by this fire. They are being assisted by the Red Cross. Syracuse Fire Investigators at the scene have determined the fire began on a second-floor porch. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. There were no injuries reported to civilians or to Fire Department personnel.
A total of 46 Fire Department personnel responded to this incident, including command and support staff. Syracuse Fire Department Ambulance, 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.