For the period of Friday August 29, 2008 to Thursday September 4, 2008 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 131 calls for assistance.
Saturday August 30 – Just before 4:30 PM Falls firefighters again found themselves enroute to Whirlpool State Park for another person reported to be in distress. Firefighters from the downtown stations descended into the gorge and rendezvoused with State Parks Police who were with an injured party. Apparently the female victim had fallen into the water in a location that was very close to that of the tragedy that occurred two weeks earlier. Again the victim ventured too close to the swiftly running water and was suddenly swept downriver. Fortunately the victim was a strong swimmer and after a harrowing 100 yard trip downriver was able to swim to safety. The victim was evaluated by department medical technicians and refused treatment for her minor injuries.
Sunday August 31 – At 12:42 AM members of the Fire Prevention Bureau accompanied by their counterparts in Building and Inspections were called to the 2800 block of McKoon Avenue to investigate complaints about unsafe housing conditions. Inspectors found numerous violations of the fire code in a residence that was being used to house students from Niagara University. More then 80% of all campus related fire fatalities occur in off-campus housing. The common denominators are excessive use of intoxicants, overcrowding, and non-functioning smoke detectors. Evidence gathered at the scene showed that all three of these conditions existed at the home in question. Members of the fire department will continue to enforce state codes and work to ensure that safe housing is provided for students and those unsafe hazardous conditions do not continue to plague neighborhoods.
Sunday August 31 – Cleveland Avenue and 18th Street was the scene of the first of several automobile fires that firefighters responded to this day. Shortly after 2 PM firefighters from Engine 4 arrived to find a 1990 Lincoln well involved in fire. The fire, which appeared to have originated in the engine compartment quickly spread to the remainder of the vehicle. At 9:25 PM firefighters from the LaSalle station were dispatched to the 7300 block of Niagara Falls blvd for another fire involving and automobile. In both of these incidents quick deployment of hoselines limited the fire damage to the vehicles involved. Members of the Fire Prevention Bureau are investigating each of these incidents.
Monday September 1 – Labor Day as well as the new month was less then 30 minutes old when members of Platoon Two were summoned to the intersection of 13th and Pierce for a reported structure fire. Engine 4 arrived and confirmed a “working “fire involving a wood frame structure which was totally involved. Firefighters initiated an exterior attack on the previously fire damaged building while simultaneously gaining access to a nearby stricter which had fire impinging upon it. Protective hoselines were stretched into the exposure to control any fire which may have spread to the interior of the building. The roof of the fire building collapsed and the fire was extinguished through the use of elevated hose streams from Truck 1. The building was declared a total loss and representatives of Building and Inspections made arrangements for the building to be demolished. This fire is currently under investigation by the Fire Prevention Bureau.
