For the period of Friday July 10, 2009 to Thursday July 16, 2009 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 113 calls for assistance.
Friday July 10 – A reported vehicle fire sent fire units responding to Goat Island at 1:22 PM. Fire units arrived on the scene to find an electric vehicle operated by New York State Parks well involved in fire. Firefighters quickly deployed hoselines and were able to extinguish the fire. Fire Investigators determined that the fire apparently started in some electrical components associated with the vehicles heater. The vehicle was a total loss with damage estimated at $5,000.
Saturday July 11 – The structure that served as the office of the defunct balloon ride was damaged in an early morning arson blaze. At 1:35 AM fire was discovered coming from the inside of the wood frame structure. Engine 4 arrived on the scene and was able to quickly place a hoseline in service to confine and extinguish the fire. Apparently someone threw some type of ignitable liquid against the side of the building which was then ignited. The majority off the fire was confined to an entry platform and the exterior of the structure. Slight damage was sustained by a nearby tent that had been erected for the concert that was to take place later that day. This suspicious fire caused an estimated $3,500 in damages and is under investigation by both the Fire Prevention Bureau as well as Arson Detectives of the NFPD.
Monday July 13 – At 3:18 AM a police officer on routine patrol spotted smoke coming from a vacant structure in the 1500 block of Pierce Avenue. By the time fire units arrived on the scene fire had taken control of a good portion of the 3 story structure. Firefighters deployed multiple hoselines into the structure in an attempt to stop the rapidly spreading fire. The fire caused an estimated $5,000 in damage to the building that was reported to have been recently placed under contract. Fire Investigators have determined that this fire was intentionally set and are currently investigating potential leads.
Tuesday July 14 – a resident of the 1600 block of 8th street awoke to find a portion of his second story porch on fire. The resident was able to extinguish the fire but placed a call to the fire department to make sure that the fire was completely out. Firefighters found evidence that numerous illegal fireworks had been being used and may have contributed to the fire.
Wednesday July 15 – The area of College Avenue and Hyde Park Blvd was the scene of a large fire that involved over 100 vehicles in a nearby salvage yard. Niagara County fire units arrived on the scene in the 2900 block of Delaware Avenue and were confronted with not only multiple fires but also a series of explosions. Due to the volume of fire assistance was requested from the City of Niagara Falls which sent three engines and one Truck Company to the fire scene. Falls firefighters were assigned to stop the fire from spreading any further south and deployed a combination of master streams as well as handlines. Black smoke and flames estimated at fifty feet tall filled the sky as firefighters struggled to gain control of the fire. Falls firefighters spent a total of 5 hours on the scene before being released.
Wednesday July 15 – The odor of smoke filled the late afternoon air as once again firefighters responded to Pierce Avenue. A neighbor cutting his grass noticed smoke coming from the attic area of the wood frame dwelling. Arriving firefighters found active fire on the second floor of the building and performed ventilation to remove the intensifying smoke. Hoselines were stretched up the stairs and into the fire area. The fire was believed to have started when the bathroom fan overheated and ignited nearby combustibles.
Bathroom fans are not designed to run continuously. In the past three weeks Niagara Falls firefighters have responded to two fires involving overheated fans which have ignited areas in the nearby ceiling. In both cases the fires burned undetected for some time in the void space above the bathroom. Unless this space is equipped with a smoke alarm the fire will continue to intensify until it is discovered and reported to the fire department. Residents should not use bathroom exhaust fans as a means of cooling their homes as these fans are designed for intermittent use only.
