For the period of Friday July 4, 2008 to Thursday July 11, 2008 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 131 calls for assistance.
July 4, 2008 – July 10, 2008
Friday July 4 – The holiday weekend began relatively calm for falls firefighters. As the sun went down the nighttime air became filled with fireworks. Around 9:30 PM firefighters were dispatched to the 8200 block of Pershing Avenue for an incident involving personal injury due to a mishap with fireworks. An individual attempting to
ignite illegal fireworks had some type of aerial device struck him in the upper part of the body causing soft tissue injury to the face. The individual was treated on the scene by department EMT’s and transported by ambulance to a local hospital. The Fire Prevention Bureau is continuing to investigate.
Saturday July 5 – The late afternoon sky in the 2200 block of Cudaback Avenue filled with smoke just before 5PM as firefighters were sent for a reported structure fire. Units from Royal Avenue arrived to find smoke coming from a multi family residential occupancy. Firefighters advanced hoselines into the structure and found a first floor bedroom fully involved in fire. The fire was rapidly extending into the hallway and severely threatened to extend by way of the stairs to the upper level of the building. Additional hoselines were deployed up the stairs to control any fire that reached the second floor. The fire caused a total of $20,000 worth of damage to the building and is under investigation. This was the most severe incident of four that were reported to falls firefighters between 4:45 and 5 PM which literally had units from all corners of the city being committed to emergency incidents.
Sunday July 6 – Once again firefighters found themselves responding just before dark to the area between the Devils Hole and the Whirlpool for a reported injury in the gorge. A text message was the source of a report indicating that a woman was at the bottom of the gorge and was injured. Multiple agencies responded and the search for the exact location of the victim was initiated. Parks police were successful in locating the victim and began assessing her injuries. Firefighters began the journey into the gorge to assist and if necessary carry the victim out. The victims injuries were minor and it was determined that she would be able to walk out under her own power. After more then an hour the victim exited from the gorge and was transported to a local hospital for follow-up treatment.
Monday July 7 – The 7600 block of Niagara Falls Blvd was the scene of a tragic incident involving and automobile and a motorcycle. At 10:48 PM calls into Central Alarm reported an accident in the area with the possibility of serious injury. Units from the 72nd Street fire hall arrived to find two victims lying in the roadway and had apparently been ejected from the motorcycle. Both victims had multiple injuries and Mercy Flight was requested to the scene as the injuries appeared to be life threatening. The late hour of the day allowed firefighters to use the parking lot of the shopping center as a landing zone for the helicopter. One victim was transported by ground unit to the trauma center at ECMC while the other was helicoptered to the same facility. Unfortunately the most serious injured victim expired early the next day due to her injuries.
Hotel occupancy and visitors to our city are up and are at levels not seen in recent years. This means an increased number of drivers on the road are unfamiliar with the streets and may be unsure of where they are going. The downtown area is congested with pedestrian traffic that presents additional concerns for operators of motor vehicles. Many of these pedestrians are crossing in the middle of the street and from between parked cars. Residents and visitors are reminded to pay full time and attention and slow down.
