For the period of Friday May 1, 2009 to Thursday May 7, 2009 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 120 calls for assistance.
Friday May 1 – within the span of less then 90 minutes, falls firefighters responded to two separate incidents involving individuals trapped inside elevators. At 7:52 PM firefighters were dispatched to a mid-rise residential building in the 2100 block of Main Street for a report of people trapped inside the elevator. Firefighters were able to isolate the power and secure the elevator. Once this was accomplished the hoistway and elevator car doors were able to be manipulated and the occupants freed. At 9:09 PM firefighters were again sent to another elevator rescue. This time firefighters found themselves responding to a high-rise residential building in the 700 block of 10th Street where firefighters repeated the process of once again removing victims from within the elevator. Residents are reminded that if they find themselves in an elevator that suddenly stops, they should never try to force the doors to the elevator car or hoistway open. Residents are instructed to utilize the emergency phone if so equipped or utilize the alarm button that can be found on the elevator panel.
Sunday May 3 - A minor kitchen fire sent one resident of the 400 block of Portage Road to the hospital. Shortly after 10 AM downtown fire units were dispatched for a kitchen fire in a residential structure. On arrival firefighters determined that the majority of the fire was out, however, one resident was suffering from significant burn injuries. Firefighters began to treat the victim’s injuries and they were transported to a local hospital for additional treatment.
Monday May 4 – The 9800 block of Niagara Falls Blvd was the scene of a structure fire that broke out at 8:15 PM. Smoke filled the air as the dispatcher informed the responding firefighters that someone may possible be trapped in the building. Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire and smoke coming from a single story motel. Hoselines were stretched from the apparatus as firefighters began to enter the unit and combat the fire. Aggressive ventilation and application of sufficient water stopped the horizontal spread of the fire and confined the actual fire damage to the original unit with some smoke and water damage to the adjacent units. Firefighters evacuated some of the occupants of the other units as a precaution but those folks were eventually returned to their units. The occupants of the fire unit stated that they awoke to find the unit involved in flames and evacuated the building. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. Units from neighboring fire departments briefly filled city stations to ensure coverage for city residents.
Tuesday May 5 – Firefighters were alerted at 2:40 AM to respond to the 1600 block of Ferry Avenue to investigate some type of material spilled in the roadway. On arrival they were able to determine that a large piece of machinery ruptured a hydraulic hose resulting in a significant spill of hydraulic fluid. Firefighters were able to confine the spill and used absorbent material to remove the substance from the roadway.
May 5 – At 11:23 AM firefighters from the Ontario Avenue Station were alerted to respond to a vehicle accident in the 2800 block of Highland Avenue. On arrival firefighters found a single vehicle accident with the vehicle striking a nearby home. The driver of the vehicle had reportedly fled the scene of the accident without sustaining injury. The driver was eventually located and arrested by the Niagara Falls Police Department. Representatives from Building and Inspections were called to asses the structural damage to the building.
May 5 – An alert neighbor quit possibly saved a home in the 100 block of 61st street from a serious fire that broke out Tuesday afternoon. The neighbor noticed some electrical wires arching where the main electrical power went in to the adjacent home. The neighbor quickly grabbed a nearby extinguisher and aimed it at the burning material which by this time involved the vinyl siding of the home. Both gas and electrical service to the home were shut off as a precaution by members of the fire department. The fire is considered was investigated by the Fire Prevention Bureau and is considered accidental.
