Syracuse, NY- On July 24, 2023, at 5:53 a.m., Syracuse Firefighters were alerted by the Onondaga County 911 Center to a possible structure fire at 1222 Park Street. Firefighters from Station 2 on Lodi Street arrived on the scene in just over two minutes and found a large, two-and-a-half-story home with light smoke coming from the front. As additional fire companies arrived on scene, firefighters stretched hoses into the home to investigate the source of the smoke. Firefighters located fire in a wall between rooms on the second floor of the home and began to open the wall up to extinguish the flames. A signal ‘99’ was transmitted.
Firefighters were able to quickly contain and extinguish the flames and limit the damage to the second floor of the home. Searches for trapped occupants were negative; all were able to safely escape prior to the fire department’s arrival. The fire was declared out after approximately 10 minutes. Syracuse Fire Investigators were on the scene working to determine the cause of the fire. The occupants of the home were able to return. There were no injuries reported to civilians or to fire personnel.
As units were clearing the scene of the Park Street fire, at 6:27 a.m., they were again alerted by the 911 center to a possible fire, this time at 154 Mather Street. Firefighters from Station 9, on Shuart Ave, were returning from the scene of the Park Street fire and diverted towards Mather Street. They arrived on the scene just over two and a half minutes later to find smoke billowing from the second floor of a two-story home. A signal ‘99’, the second in just over 30 minutes, was transmitted.
Firefighters initiated an aggressive interior attack, stretching hoses to the second floor, and methodically searching the structure for trapped victims. crews encountered high heat and blinding smoke as they extinguished the fire. All searches were negative, the house was reported to have been vacant for several weeks. Several holes were cut in the roof, to release trapped smoke and heat, as well as check for fire spread.
The bulk of the fire was extinguished in approximately 30 minutes, however firefighters remained on scene for an extended period chasing hotspots, and ensuring the fire was completely out. Syracuse fire investigators were on the scene working to determine the origin and cause of this fire. There were no injuries reported to civilians or to firefighters. The home sustained significant damage to the second floor and attic.
A total of 40 fire personnel responded to the park street fire, and 42 responded to the Mather Street fire, including command and support staff. Syracuse Fire Department Ambulance, Syracuse Police, American Medical Response, National Grid, and The American Red Cross also responded to each scene. We thank our partners at the 911 Center, SPD, AMR, National Grid, and the Red Cross. These were the 50th and 51st major fires, respectively, in the City of Syracuse this Year.