For the period of Friday January 9, 2009 to Thursday January 15, 2009 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 93 calls for assistance.
Friday January 9 – A vehicle versus pedestrian accident in the 3000 block of Pine Avenue sent one person to the hospital with injuries to the lower extremities. At 12:40 PM fire units arrived to find one individual down in the street and in need of medical attention. Department EMT’s assessed the patients injuries and determined that a potential fracture of the leg existed. Immobilizing splints were applied and the patient was transported to a local medical facility.
Friday January 9 – At 2:37 PM firefighters were requested to respond to the Niagara Falls State Park to assist New York State Parks Police with a medical emergency. Police Officers were on the scene with an unconscious, unresponsive patient in need of medical attention. Fire units arrived on the scene and began to administer first aid to the patient which included assisting with his breathing. The unidentified patient was transported to Niagara Falls Memorial.
Sunday January 11 – The 2800 block of McKoon Avenue was the scene of a late evening structure fire. At 10:24 PM Central Alarm began to receive calls indicating that smoke was coming from a 2 ½ story frame dwelling. Firefighters arrived on the scene and determined that the “Red Baron”, a building that has been the scene of previous department activity, had an active fire on the second floor. Firefighters from the Engine Company advanced hoselines into the building while members of the Truck Crew performed both a search of the building and performed outside ventilation. Firefighters found a well involved fire on the second floor with the fire rapidly extending up into the attic space. Additional firefighters arrived on the scene and placed additional hoselines into service in an attempt to cut off the vertical fire spread. At one point fire could be seen venting out of the roof as firefighters on the interior opened up the ceiling and other void spaces. The fire was declared under control around 11PM with damage estimated at $30,000. The exact cause of the fire is still undetermined and under investigation.
Tuesday January 13 – The cold weather may have played a part in a water emergency at a commercial building in the 300 block of Prospect Street. At 8:30 fire units were dispatched to investigate an alarm sounding in a business located next to the Hard Rock Café. Firefighters from 10th Street arrived and found water flowing out from behind a locked door and some type of alarm sounding. After gaining entry, it was determined that a broken sprinkler pipe was the source of the water.
Thursday January 15 - A home in the 100 block of 68th Street was the scene of a late afternoon blaze. At 4:36 PM a call was received indicating smoke coming from a residential structure. LaSalle area firefighters arrived and found an occupant of the home throwing flaming combustibles off of the rear porch of the home. One of the occupants was using a propane torch to assist with some mechanical repairs on his automobile and inadvertently placed to torch near some combustible material. The occupant went inside and when he returned he noticed that the material on the rear porch was on fire. The fire was quickly extinguished with no significant structural damage.
The excessive cold and snow may have contributed to the many severe medical calls the department responded to this past week. Firefighters responded to a number of unconscious and/or unresponsive individuals with some of them in cardiac arrest. Excessive cold coupled with physical exertion such as snow shoveling places great stress on the cardiac system. Please make sure that if you do intend to engage in physical activity in this type of weather that your doctor has performed a physical and that he/she has cleared you to participate in strenuous activity.
