For the period of Friday November 28, 2008 to Thursday December 11, 2008 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 201 calls for assistance.
Friday November 28 – Thick black smoke filled the 2800 block of Pine Avenue causing pedestrians to seek shelter from the choking smoke and causing visibility problems for drivers. Shortly before 1 PM fire units were alerted to a fire in a commercial establishment. First arriving fire units reported heavy smoke showing from the single story structure and immediately began to deploy hoselines to the interior of the structure. Workers on the scene were able to confirm that all of the occupants were accounted for and relayed that they believed that the fire was in an interior work area where some type of welding/cutting operation had been taking place. One occupant sustained minor injuries but refused medical transport to the hospital. The majority of the fire was declared under control within fifteen minutes. The apparently accidental fire caused damage estimated at $25,000 to the structure and contents. Traffic was detoured from Pine Avenue for a period of about 30 minutes.
Saturday November 29 – Three minutes into the new day the phones lines at Central Alarm sprang to life with numerous reports of a fire in the 1000 block of Niagara Avenue. Engine 3 from the Ontario Avenue fire hall reported that the 2 story wood frame dwelling was fully involved and were deploying hoselines to protect a nearby structure as well as begin to attempt to control the fire. The fires gained considerable headway and rapidly spread to the attic and void spaces which forced firefighters to an exterior fire attack. Damage to the building was extensive and inspectors of the Building and Inspections Department ordered that the building be demolished. The fire is considered suspicious and is currently under investigation.
Saturday November 29 - A person passing a home in the 2900 block of Niagara Street noticed an inordinate amount of smoke coming from the structure and called 911 to report a “house on fire”. Firefighters arrived to find the interior of the home filling with smoke as well as smoke coming from the area around the chimney. The occupants of the home had apparently left the home with a fire burning in the fireplace. The integrity of the chimney was compromised which allowed the adjoining wood frame members to be exposed to fire and eventually start on fire. Firefighters used hand tools to open up the walls to check for fire extension and complete extinguishment.
Thursday December 4 – The 2700 block of Weston Avenue was the location of another reported chimney fire. At 7:12 PM fire units were dispatched to “fire coming from a chimney”. While it is common for smoke to come from a chimney, fire coming from the chimney is an indication that something is seriously wrong with the chimney and fireplace. Compared to the fire on Niagara Avenue, this was relatively minor and did not cause significant structural damage to the home.
Residents are reminded that they should have their fireplaces inspected by a qualified individual on a annual basis to make sure that the brick and mortar are in good condition, the damper is functioning as designed, and that creosote has not built up to dangerous amounts on the liner. Fire can burn undetected in the walls of the home and in many cases is not noticed until the attic of the home is on fire.
Friday December 5 – At 1:12 PM downtown fire units were dispatched for a reported structure fire in the 1800 block of Michigan Avenue. Units arrived and found a smoke condition in the home with a fire that involved the electrical service to the residence. Some type of electrical short occurred in the basement and assistance from National Grid was requested. The situation caused significant damage to the electrical service and the home was unable to be inhabited. The Red Cross was called to assist the occupants.
Saturday December 6 – The intersection of Pine and Walnut was the scene of an automobile accident that sent one person to the Trauma Center at ECMC. Firefighters were alerted to the incident at 2:06 PM and arrived to find that one person needed to be extricated from the damaged automobile.
Saturday December 6 - Just as units were clearing the accident at Pine and Walnut numerous 911 calls came in indicating a vehicle had struck a building in the 2600 block of Porter Road. One vehicle had left the roadway, continued across a front lawn, and struck the front porch of a home. A total of 6 patients were evaluated by department EMT’s with only one electing to go to the hospital.
Saturday December 6- A potential tragedy was averted when fire units responded to a home in the 100 block of 12th street for a reported Carbon Monoxide incident. Firefighters arrived to find at least 2 people suffering from exposure to high levels of the odorless, toxic gas. Levels more then 10 times the acceptable level were found in the home. National Fuel was requested to the scene for a suspected faulty furnace.
