Syracuse, N.Y. – At approximately 3:07 a.m. the Syracuse Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at 112-114 Buckingham Ave. Engine 10 and Truck 5 (2030 East Genesee Street) arrived within minutes and found a 3 story multifamily wood frame structure with heavy fire on the second story, front of the building, extending to the 3rd floor and live power lines down in the front yard.
Due to the tremendous amount of fire, crews started firefighting operations from outside of the building and requested an additional Engine Co. There were reports from people on the scene that 3 people were still inside. With that additional information, fire crews quickly transitioned to an interior fire attack, to search for victims and continue extinguishing the fire.
The Rescue Co. located two unconscious adult victims on the second floor near the rear of the building. One victim was removed via ground ladder with the assistance of the Squad Co. and the second victim was removed via an interior stairway. Both victims were then transported to local hospitals by AMR. The reported 3rd victim was not home at the time of the fire and was located by Syracuse Police.
The Truck 5 search team was on the 3rd floor searching for victims and was unable to make their way back out of the building the same way that they had entered. A “Mayday” was declared for this team as they exited a 3rd floor window onto a second floor roof. The declaration of a “Mayday” automatically creates a second alarm assignment, bringing the total number of firefighters on scene to over 50. Exterior crews placed a ground ladder to the Truck 5 team and they were able to climb down to the ground. The fire was extinguished and there were no reports of injured firefighters.
There were a total of 5 people in the home at the time of the fire, two people on the first floor, two on the second (rescued by firefighters) and 1 person on the third. The first and third floor occupants were able to evacuate on their own. Two pet dogs perished at this fire and were located on the second floor. Working smoke detectors were found in the building. The American Red Cross is assisting the remaining occupants.
National Grid was on the scene to secure the downed power lines and gas service to the home. Investigators with the Syracuse Fire and Police Departments are working to determine the cause and origin of this fire.