NY Recruit Helps Evacuate Burning Building

Syracuse, N.Y. — When Syracuse firefighters first arrived at a serious house fire Thursday evening, they saw bystanders helping to evacuate people.

One person helping was a Syracuse Fire Department recruit who will graduate and join the department at the end of May, according to a news release from the Syracuse Fire Department.

Around 5:17 p.m., the house fire was reported at 209 Hutchinson Ave. in the city’s Elmwood neighborhood, fire officials said.

Heavy smoke was pouring from the chimney and firefighters confirmed there was a fire inside the house.

The bystanders helped one man down the stairs and two other men got out on their own. All three were treated on scene and brought to local hospitals, fire officials said. The statuses of the three was unknown at this time, they said.

Crews extinguished the fire within 10 minutes, officials said. The cause is under investigation, they said.

The recruit who helped evacuate residents before crews arrived will graduate from the training academy on May 20, fire officials said.

Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at [email protected].

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