For the period of Friday April 24, 2009 to Thursday April 30, 2009 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 111 calls for assistance.
Friday April 24 – Just before 9:30 PM fire units from the downtown stations were dispatched for an automobile fire in the 1800 block of Willow Avenue. Units arrived and found a 2006 Chrysler well involved in fire. Members of the Engine Company deployed hoselines and began to combat the blaze while members of the Truck Company gained entry to the vehicle. Evidence at the scene has led fire investigators to classify this fire as suspicious and forensic material has been sent to the lab for further evaluation.
Saturday April 25 – Fire units were dispatched to the first of two reported building collapses this week at 2:10 PM on Saturday. A large building in the 200 block of 10th street showed evidence of a partial collapse when firefighters arrived on the scene. Further investigation determined that the roof and a section of the North wall of the structure had failed threatening to compromise the entire building. After determining that nobody was trapped under the debris, firefighters secured the collapse area and called for assistance from Building and Inspections. National grid was summoned to the scene to control the utilities and the entire building was condemned for occupancy.
Sunday April 26 – Discarded smoking material was the cause of a vehicle fire that occurred in the 2200 block of Linwood Avenue. Shortly after 8 PM smoke was noticed coming from a 1988 Ford van. Fire units arrived and found the interior of the van involved in fire and were able to quickly extinguish the fire using hoselines and the water carried on the fire apparatus. The fire is considered accidental in nature.
Monday April 27 – At 8:13 AM fire units from Ontario Avenue were sent to the 2600 block of 10th Street to check on a hazardous condition. On arrival the found that the second floor of a vacant two story structure had collapsed inward. The building had previously been occupied as a number of things but in recent years had fallen into disrepair. Representatives from Building and Inspections were called to the scene to determine the structural integrity of the remainder of the building. While on the scene the building sustained a number of partial collapses one of which filled the adjacent sidewalk with bricks and other debris. It was determined that the structure was too unstable to be secured and an immediate demolition was ordered.
Tuesday April 28 – A fire reported at 3:06 AM did an estimated $40,000 to a garage and other nearby combustibles. Smoke and flames filled the air in the 1000 block of 87th street when firefighters arrived. The fire was originally reported by a neighbor to be the house to the rear but firefighters arrived and determined that a garage, shed, and at least two vehicles were involved. Another nearby garage was beginning to smolder and in danger of becoming involved in fire. Using multiple hoselines firefighters were able to save the nearby structures but the original fire building was declared a total loss as were the vehicles. Fire Investigators were able to determine that the fire originated in a battery charger that was in use in the garage. The battery charger as well as an extension cord overheated resulting in the fire and due to the amount and type of storage the fire quickly grew. One resident did sustain a minor injury as they attempted to move personal items from harm way.
Thursday April 30 – Just before 2:30 AM fire units from the 10th Street station were alerted to respond to a single vehicle accident in the area of John Daly Blvd and the Robert Moses Parkway. Fire units arrived to find a vehicle that had crashed into a tree. The force of the accident latterly tore the vehicle in half with the passenger compartment coming to rest around the tree. The lone male occupant was pinned in the vehicle and firefighters used the “Jaws Of Life” and other specialized extrication tools in an attempt to free the driver. Due to the severity of the injuries and the lengthy extrication period, Mercy Flight was requested to respond to the scene. A landing zone was established in a nearby parking lot while tow trucks were also summoned to assist in the extrication efforts. The crumpled metal in combination with the car being wrapped around the tree made the disentanglement of the patients feet very difficult. The patient was eventually freed and flown to the trauma center suffering from serious injuries.
