Rylee Kirk
syracuse.com
(TNS)
Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse firefighters battled four fires in just over eight hours last night and this morning.
That many fires in a short time are “unheard of,” according to Capt. Matt Cramer, a spokesperson for the Syracuse Fire Department.
Two fires Tuesday morning on Putnam Street and North Lowell Avenue brought it to four fires for one shift of firefighters, Cramer said. The day before the same shift fought a morning fire, he said.
This morning’s first fire was reported at 5:01 a.m. at 311 Putnam Street, according to dispatches from the Onondaga County 911 Center.
The two-story house had heavy fire on an addition on the back of the first floor, Craner said. The house was vacant but one person was seen leaving, he said. It is unclear why they were there, he said.
Just a few minutes later, at 5:18 a.m. another fire was called in at 604 N. Lowell Ave., according to dispatches.
When firefighters arrived, there was smoke coming from the roof, he said. The two residents were able to get out and firefighters rescued two cats, he said. “Several” cats were missing, he said.
The house has water, smoke, and fire damage but Craner said he wouldn’t consider it a loss. Firefighters were able to keep the fire from some of the resident’s belongings, he said.
These fires were just hours after the same firefighters had to battle two others Monday night, Craner said.
A fire ripped through a home at 7:10 p.m. Monday at 638 E. Division St. with smoke visible for miles. The house was vacant but boxes in the attic helped the fire spread, Fire Chief Michael Monds told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard at the scene.
Part of the roof collapsed on the back end of the home, Craner said. Getting the fire under control took a lot of work, he said. Firefighters had to pull the boards off the windows and doors to create openings and move hoses and ladders to get in the best positions to fight the fire, he said.
Another fire broke out at 8:52 p.m., just about an hour later, according to dispatches.
Firefighters were waved down by bystanders, pointing at a home at 737 Lemoyne Ave., Craner said. On scene, firefighters could see flames coming from two second floor windows, he said.
One man was inside of the home when the fire started, but made it out before firefighters arrived, Craner said. He was evaluated on scene for smoke inhalation, he said.
Craner said it took firefighters 30 minutes to extinguish the fire.
No firefighters or civilians were injured in any of the fires, he said. All four fires broke out during the same shift that started at 4 p.m. Monday, he said.
Most firefighters responded to one or two of the fires but the firefighters working on the rescue unit responded to all four, he said.
First Deputy Chief Daniel Downes told Craner in his more than 20 years with the fire department he couldn’t remember a night with four fires.
The night was an “exhaustive effort,” and “unheard of” Craner said.
The cause of all four fires are still being investigated, he said.
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