Multiple Firefighters Injured at House Fire at 1106 Park Street

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – On August 31, 2022 at 4:24 p.m., Syracuse firefighters were alerted by the 911 Center to a possible fire at 1106 Park Street, on the Northside. Firefighters from Station 2 (Lodi St.) arrived in just over two minutes to find a 2½ story, wood framed building with smoke issuing from the structure. Attack handlines were quickly stretched into position, crews forced open doors and made entry. Crews faced zero-visibility and very high-heat as they searched the house and made their way to the fire room to extinguish it.

Rapid fire development occurred during this aggressive interior attack and now the house had large amounts of fire blowing out of windows of the fire room. A handline team was impinged by this rapid increase in heat, and a firefighter ‘bailed out’ of a window. Chief officers called a ‘mayday’ on behalf of the second member of this handline team, as it was not immediately apparent where they were. The ‘mayday’ was cancelled as the member was located exiting the structure at a different exit.

Other crews continued battling the fire, and tactics were changed to a defensive, outside operation. Transition quickly occurred to offensive, interior attack. Firefighters extinguished the fire and checked for extension to the rest of the house. The fire was contained to the first floor. Syracuse Fire investigators are actively investigating the cause of the fire that started in a bedroom. There were no smoke detectors in the house. One adult and two children were displaced, uninjured and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.

Two firefighters were sent to the hospital in stable condition, transported by (1) a Syracuse Fire ambulance for minor head burns to University Hosp. and (2) AMR ambulance for heat-exhaustion to St. Joseph’s Hosp. The burned firefighter has been discharged from the ED. The second remains in the ED in stable condition for observation.

Fire scenes are extremely dynamic and can change in seconds. A ‘mayday’ is a fire service term for when a firefighter is in a life-threatening situation: down, lost, trapped, out of breathing-air, to name a few. A ‘bail out’ is a technique used when conditions require immediate exit from the room or building through a window. Both are unusual occurrences.

We thank our partners at the 911 Center, National Grid, Syracuse Police, AMR and the American Red Cross.