Fire at Skyline Apartments
Published on March 05, 2024
Syracuse, NY- On Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 12:58 p.m., Syracuse Firefighters were dispatched by the Onondaga County 911 Center to 753 James Street, the former Skyline Apartments, for a reported fire alarm activation. Firefighters from Station 9, on Shuart Ave, arrived at the scene moments later. When they arrived, firefighters found the fire alarm system in the multi-story high-rise building was active, with audible alarms blaring. As crews began to investigate the cause of the activation, a resident met them in the lobby and reported his apartment was on fire on the second floor. The incident commander requested the alarm be upgraded to a full structure fire response. Teams of firefighters sent to the second floor reported heavy black smoke in the hallway. A signal ‘99’ was transmitted as additional units arrived on the scene.
Teams of firefighters connected hoses to the building's standpipe system, as other firefighters searched the fire apartment for trapped occupants. The fire was located in apartment 211. Firefighters were able to utilize hand-held fire extinguishers to keep the flames in check until hoses reached the location. The halls and stairwells of the building quickly filled with smoke and other products of combustion. Crews began checking the floors above the fire and apartments next to the fire for any fire spread. The efforts of the initial response companies kept the fire from spreading past the apartment of origin.
The apartment where the fire occurred, on the second floor, sustained fire, smoke, and water damage. Smoke traveled throughout the building and took several hours to clear. Syracuse Fire Investigators were able to determine that the fire began in the bedroom of the apartment and was caused by an undetermined issue with a lithium-ion battery in the apartment. The occupant of the apartment was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and was later released. There were no injuries reported to Fire Department personnel.
The fire was brought under control in approximately 20 minutes. Firefighters worked for several hours to clear smoke and other products of combustion from all floors of the building. Several occupants were displaced by the fire. The Red Cross was assisting occupants impacted by the fire. Any remaining occupants of the building were evacuated.
A total of 42 Fire Department personnel responded to this incident, including command and support staff. Syracuse Fire Department Ambulance, Syracuse Police, American Medical Response, National Grid, The American Red Cross, and other City departments also responded to the scene. We thank our partners at the 911 Center, SPD, AMR, National Grid, and the Red Cross.