For the period of Friday July 24, 2009 to Thursday July August 6, 2009 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 215 calls for assistance.
Thursday July 30 – Just before 4 PM fire units were dispatched for a reported outside fire that involved rubbish in the 1100 block of LaSalle Avenue. Engine 4 from the 10th Street Station arrived on the scene and was confronted with a fire that was rapidly extending to a nearby garage. Firefighters rapidly deployed a hoseline and were able to extinguish the blaze before significant damage occurred to the structure. This fire is considered suspicious and is currently under investigation by members of the Fire Prevention Bureau.
Sunday August 2 – The 2400 block of Pierce avenue was the scene of a early morning fire that caused considerable damage to a 2 ½ story occupied dwelling. At 9:25 AM a full assignment for a structure fire was dispatched by Central Alarm. First arriving fire units found a large amount of fire blowing out the windows on the second floor of the building. To further compound the situation just as firefighters arrived on the scene a significant rainstorm began pounding the area. A team of firefighters entered the building to search for any occupants who may have still been asleep and not aware of the serious conditions. Additional firefighters began to connect hoses to a nearby fire hydrant and stretch hoselines into the building. Firefighters fought through the heat and were able to get water on the well involved second floor but by this time the fire had extended up to the attic area of the building. The large amount of material stored in the attic made extinguishment difficult and firefighters used specialized foam to get to the deep seated smoldering embers. The ferocious rain caused the firefighters protective clothing to become waterlogged which resulted in the heat taking a toll on some of the members. Fire Investigators have determined that the likely cause of this fire was a candle being used in an upstairs room. The fire caused an estimated $45,000 in damage to the structure and contents.
Monday August 3 – The intersection of Rainbow Blvd and John B Daily was the scene of an early morning crash. Just after midnight multiple fire units were dispatched for a multiple vehicle accident with multiple injuries. Arriving firefighters began to stabilize the vehicles and checked for any fluids that had been released. Once it was determined that it was safe to begin operations, firefighters began to treat the injured occupants. This intersection has been the location of a number of spectacular crashes but in this instant all of the injuries appeared to be minor in nature. Those that were injured were transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Tuesday August 4 – An apparent arson fire that was reported at 12:03 AM resulted in a vehicle being a total loss. Just minutes into the new day firefighters from the 72nd Street hall were dispatched to the 5500 block of Frontier Avenue. On arrival they found a passenger vehicle completely involved in fire. Hoselines ere deployed from the fire apparatus and using the water carried on the fire engine; firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze. The vehicle was declared a total loss with damage in this suspected arson fire being placed at $3,500.
Tuesday August 4 – A dangerous practice could have resulted in a LaSalle area family losing their home to fire. A box left in an oven was the source of a small fire that was reported just after 11AM. Fortunately the fire was confined to the oven and was quickly extinguished. This practice (storing food in the oven) was common years ago when the humidity in the air affected boxed cereal, breads, and other items that were susceptible to moisture. Modern packaging makes this practice obsolete and potentially dangerous.
Wednesday August 5 – A resident in the 4600 block of Hyde Park Blvd narrowly avoided being seriously burned in a kitchen mishap that was reported to the fire department at 4:41 PM. The resident uses a large amount of candles and rather then discarding them when they get too small she melts them down in a pot for reuse. On this particular day while re-melting the wax the resident became distracted and the wax mixture erupted in flame. Seeing the flames the resident attempted to use water to extinguish the fire. The water immediately sank to the bottom of the pot and began to boil. The result was the hot wax erupted and sprayed out of the pot covering the entire kitchen in candle wax. Residents are reminded that the best type of extinguisher to have in their kitchen is one that is rated for multi purpose and contains the letters ABC.
