For the period of Friday April 17, 2009 to Thursday April 23, 2009 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 102 calls for assistance.
Friday April 17 – A small fire in a commercial building caused slight damage to one wall ands a trash can. At 12:18 PM occupants of the building in the 200 block of 3rd Street noticed smoke coming from an unoccupied office on the first floor. Using a portable fire extinguisher one of the workers extinguished the majority of the fire while another called 911. The fire alarm was activated to alert the remaining occupants of the building to evacuate. Fire units arrived and used the Thermal Imaging Camera to check the charred wall for any residual fire. It was determined that the office had been in use earlier in the morning and that discarded smoking material placed in a trash can accidentally started the fire. Fire units spent about one hour on the scene removing smoke from the building and making it safe for the occupants to go back into the building.
Saturday April 18 – A suspicious fire destroyed a Ford Mustang in a fire that was reported at 1:33 AM. Fire units from LaSalle responded to the 300 block of 79th Street for what was originally reported to be some type of outside fire. Units arrived to find the vehicle well involved in fire and quickly deployed hoselines to attack the blaze. The car was declared a total loss and during the subsequent investigation evidence of an intentionally set fire was uncovered. Both investigators assigned to the Fire prevention Bureau as well as Arson Detectives continue to investigate this fire.
Saturday April 18 – An unattended candle was the cause of a fire that caused minor damage to a home in the 1300 block of Norwood Avenue. At 11:34 AM fire units were dispatched for the possible structure fire and arrived to find a slight smoke condition in the residence. It was determined that an unattended candle broke in two resulting in some nearby papers igniting. Fortunately the fire was discovered and damage was minimal.
Saturday April 18 – Late Saturday afternoon a fire broke out in the 2400 Block of Niagara Avenue resulting in significant damage to a multi story structure. At 4:10 PM Central Alarm began to receive reports of smoke coming from a building that contained a number of apartments. Fire units arrived and found a well involved fire on the 3rd floor of the frame building and quickly bean to stretch hoselines into the building. On reaching the second floor firefighters encountered significant heat conditions with the fire rapidly intensifying above them. Despite the heat hose teams continued to push up the stairs to attack the main body of fire. Members assigned to the Truck used ladders to access the roof and perform vertical ventilation in an attempt to remove the excessive heat. The fire caused extensive damage to the third floor with units on both the first and second floors suffering water damage. Like many fires in the city this too was determined to be caused by discarded smoking material. Damage estimates have been placed in excess of $20,000 and the Red Cross was called to the scene to assist the displaced occupants.
Wednesday April 22 – Yet another fire in the LaSalle area caused extensive damage to a vehicle resulting in over $10,000 in damage. At 7:28 AM as firefighters were changing shifts, units were dispatched to the 200 block of 81st Street for a vehicle on fire. Engine 9 arrived to find the interior of the vehicle well involved and deployed hoselines to extinguish the fire. The exact cause of the fire has yet to be determined and members of the Fire Prevention Bureau are investigating.
Wednesday April 22 – An afternoon accident in the 800 block of ferry Avenue sent a number of people to area hospitals. Just after 3PM multiple calls were received indicating a serious vehicle accident with injuries. Fire and Police units arrived and while the police officers controlled the traffic firefighters prepared to extricate those injured and tend to their wounds. A total of four individuals were transported with two going to Memorial Medical Center and the remaining being sent to the trauma unit at ECMC.
