Syracuse, NY- On July 22, 2023, at 8:25 a.m., Syracuse Firefighters were alerted by the Onondaga County 911 Center to a report of a fire in the area of the intersection of Helen Street and Farmer Street in Syracuse’s Sedgwick Neighborhood. As fire companies were responding to the area, the address was updated to 111 Helen Street. Firefighters from Station 9, on Shuart Ave., arrived on the scene just over two minutes and thirty seconds later to find a two-story home with smoke and fire blowing out of second floor windows on the side and the rear of the home. A signal ‘99’ was transmitted. As firefighters were preparing to enter the home, an occupant alerted them to the possibility of a child still inside the structure.
With the possibility of a trapped victim, crews initiated an aggressive interior attack, stretching hoses to the second floor of the home, and methodically searching the entire structure. Additional companies arriving on scene immediately joined the effort, providing more teams to search, and stretching additional hoses into the building. Eventually, it was confirmed that no one was trapped inside, all the occupants of the home were able to escape prior to the fire department’s arrival. The fire on the second floor was extinguished, and firefighters checked the attic space for fire as well. A hole was cut in the roof of the structure to release trapped heat and smoke, and aid in firefighting efforts. At one point, the fire threatened to spread to the neighboring home. An additional engine company responded to the scene to assist in efforts to prevent the fire’s spread.
The fire was confined to the second floor of the home, which sustained significant damage from fire, water, and smoke. The first floor of the fire building also sustained smoke and water damage. The fire also damaged the house next door. Radiant heat from the flames melted siding and sent smoke into the attic space. Four occupants were displaced from 111 Helen St., the occupants of the neighboring home were able to return. The displaced occupants were being assisted by the American Red Cross.
Syracuse Fire Investigators were on the scene working to determine the origin and cause of the fire. There were no injuries reported to civilians or to fire personnel. One person was evaluated at the scene, for an undisclosed reason, by ambulance personnel, but they declined further treatment or transport to a hospital.
A total of 45 fire personnel responded to this incident, including command and support staff. Syracuse Fire Department Ambulance, Syracuse Police, American Medical Response, National Grid, and the American Red Cross also responded to the scene. We thank our partners at the 911 Center, SPD, AMR, National Grid, and the Red Cross.