For the period of Friday April 10, 2009 to Thursday April 16, 2009 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 105 calls for assistance.
Friday April 10 – At 10:48 AM fire units were dispatched to Center Court for a report of a fire with children possible trapped. First arriving units found heavy smoke pouring from the two story residential structure. While members of the Engine Company deployed hoselines and established a water supply, additional firefighters entered the structure to perform search operations. It was quickly learned that all of the occupants had safety escaped the fire building. Additional teams of firefighters were sent into the adjacent units to determine if the fire had spread horizontally via the common walls. In the original fire building firefighters were confronted with a well involved kitchen fire which had spread to the adjacent living room. The fire was declared under control within 15 minutes but not before it caused an estimated $23,000 in damage to the structure and contents. The cause of the fire is believed to be improper discarding of smoking material. Some of the residents did complain of exposure to smoke and were transported to Memorial Medical Center for evaluation.
Monday April 13 – The intersection of Linwood and 11th was the location of a midmorning automobile fire that is considered suspicious. At 9:46 AM fire units from both 10th street as well as Ontario Avenue were sent to investigate a report of a vehicle on fire. On arrival they were confronted with a pick-up truck with the interior of the cab well involved in fire. Despite aggressive work by firefighters the vehicle was declared a total loss with damage estimated at $2,000. Unlike other fires involving vehicles there were no other exposures in the area so damage was limited to the vehicle itself. Members of the Fire Prevention Bureau continue to investigate this fire.
Monday April 13 – Just before 2 PM occupants of a commercial building in the 1500 block of Main Street reported smoke filling the basement and coming up the stairs. Dispatchers instructed the 911 caller to evacuate the building while at the same time units were dispatched to respond. Fire arriving units confirmed the presence of smoke in the building a reported that they believed that there was an active fire in the basement. Hoselines were deployed into the fire area where firefighters found a relatively small fire. Despite the fire being easily controlled the material burring coupled with the extinguishers used by the occupants, significant smoke filled the building. Fire units remained on the scene for about 90 minutes removing smoke and investigating the fire. The fire is considered accidental and is believed to have been caused by careless smoking.
Monday April 13 – The busy day involving numerous fires continued into the evening hours. At 11:15 PM Central Alarm began receiving calls indicating a structure fire in the 1700 block of Niagara St. Even before they arrived on the scene firefighters could see the smoke in the neighborhood and knew that they were responding to a significant blaze. Arriving units reported smoke coming from a two story frame dwelling and began advancing hoselines into the structure. While conducting search operations other firefighters located the family pets a removed them from the building. The fire apparently started when an adult began cooking and then went upstairs to check on the children. When they returned the kitchen was on fire and smoke began to fill the home. All of the occupants made it out of the building but not before being exposed to smoke from the fire. The fire was confined to the first floor however the remainder of the home suffered smoke and water damage. Estimate on the total damage involving the building and contents have been placed at $35,000. The family was displaced and the Red Cross is assisting them.
April 16 – The area around the falls was the scene of some activity in the early morning hours. At 2:11 AM firefighters were alerted to respond to the State Park for a report of a man in danger of falling into the water above the American Falls. Apparently the individual had some trouble while attempting to cross the Rainbow Bridge and while being questioned by Customs Officer decided to run. The officers chased the man into the park where the man attempted to elude capture by going over the rail toward the upper river. Firefighters were able to extricate the man from his predicament and he was turned over to law enforcement officers.
