For the period of Friday July 17, 2009 to Thursday July 23, 2009 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 155 calls for assistance.
Friday July 17 – The first of 3 incidents at a residential structure in the 2700 Block of Pine Avenue was reported to firefighters at 3:48 PM. This incident involved some bedding material that was set on fire. This incident was quickly controlled without a significant dollar loss. Falls firefighters responded to this building two other times this week for minor fire both inside the building as well as outside. None of the fires caused significant damage and Investigators of the Fire Prevention Bureau are investigating each of the fires.
Saturday July 18 – The first of a series of significant events that occurred on Saturday was reported at 12:03 AM. Firefighters were dispatched for a reported structure fire in the 4400 block of Lewiston Road. Engine 3 from Ontario Avenue arrived on the scene and reported heavy smoke coming from numerous windows of the 2-story structure. Smoke filled the entire structure as firefighters advanced hoselines to the second floor where they encountered zero visibility conditions and no appreciable heat. Additional hoselines were advanced into the building and teams of firefighters encountered active fire in both the basement as well as on the first floor. Aggressive ventilation by members of the Truck Company relieved the building of the blinding smoke as well as the intense heat that began to fill the entire building. The fire was declared under control within 30 minutes and caused and estimated $70,000 in damage to the building and contents.
Saturday July 18 - As the fire investigators were clearing the Lewiston Road fire, calls came in to Central Alarm indicating a fire in a motel in the 200 block of Rainbow Blvd. Downtown fire companies arrived on the scene to find numerous occupants of the motel on many of the balconies that fronted Rainbow Blvd. Thick blinding smoke filled the interior hallways as firefighters received reports indicated that a number of occupants were still in their rooms. Active fire was found in the laundry room and was extending into the hallway as members of Engine 4 deployed a hoseline to combat blaze. Other firefighters deployed ground ladders to remove the occupants from the balconies while still other firefighters searched all of the rooms of the occupied structure. A total of 6 guests were evaluated for minor injuries and smoke inhalation with only one requiring transport to the hospital. Fire Investigators have determined that the fire originated in a dryer within the laundry room. The occupancy remains closed as restoration companies’ work to clear up the damage from the fire.
Saturday July 18 – At 8:11 AM fire units were still on the scene of the motel fire when an alarm was received indicating a fire in Center Court. First arriving fire units encountered smoke coming from the 2-story middle unit of a multi-unit dwelling. Due to the time of day many of the residents of the complex were still asleep and firefighters feared that the occupants of the fire unit may be trapped. Once inside the fire unit, firefighters encountered fire on both the first and second floor of the structure. Search teams found the fire unit unoccupied and then focused their attention on the adjacent units. Fortunately none of the adjacent units was found to be occupied and firefighters were able to concentrate their efforts on containing the fire to the unit of origin. Once the fire was extinguished it was apparent that the fire was intentionally set. A suspect was indentified and arrested in connection with this fire. The Red Cross was called to the scene to assist the displaced occupants.
Saturday July 18 – ¬The morning hours continued to be extremely busy as the units that were not committed to the fire in Center Court were dispatched at 8:59 AM for a rollover accident in the 7400 block of Niagara Falls Blvd. Fire units arrived and began to size-up the incident and to stabilize the overturned vehicle. The victims were quickly extricated from the car and were transported to a local trauma center.
Monday July 20 – The 2100 block of Main Street was the scene of an arson fire involving an automobile. An unidentified ignitable liquid was sprayed on the interior of the vehicle and lit. Arriving firefighters found the interior of the car on fire and it was rapidly extinguished. The fire has been classified as arson and remains under investigation.
Tuesday July 21 – Just before midnight, LaSalle area companies were dispatched for a reported structure fire in the 300 block of 78th Street. Units arrived and found a small fire that was on the exterior of the home which was quickly extinguished. Apparently someone had filled glass containers with some type of liquid and threw it against the home. Forensic evidence that was gathered on the scene has been turned over to a specialized lab for analysis. Once the results of the test are received it is hoped that an arrest will be made in this fire.
Wednesday July 22 – A man performing maintenance on an office in the 700 block of Third Street required the assistance of the fire department at 8:17 AM. Somehow the man fell into an exterior windowell that was in the work area and injured himself. Working in very tight confines, firefighters were able to stabilize the patient and secure him to a backboard. The patient was then able to be removed without causing additional injury. The man was transported to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
The Niagara Falls Fire Department has been made aware of two significant issues that may affect residents. The first is that the Kidde Company has recalled some of their smoke alarms. Kidde has issued a recall for their Duel Sensor Smoke Alarm model # PI2000 with manufacture dates from August 0f 2008 until May of 2009. The problem involves a unit that has been exposed to static discharge may fail to operate and detect a fire. A static discharge can occur when the unit comes into contact with a vacuum nozzle of an individual who may be standing on a carpet. Residents who posses one of these unit can contact Kidde at 877-524-2086 for return directions
The second issue pertains to composite decking that is manufactured by Louisiana Pacific. While composite decking is marketed as being virtually maintenance free, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported 37 incidents of failure of the decking material due to deterioration of the composite material. New York is one of several states in which that material is widely marketed and sold.
