Rochester Fire Department Current News Provided by Democrat & Chronicle

City firefighters battle 3 fires; 4 people displaced
November 16, 2008

The Rochester Fire Department battled three separate blazes in just over three hours this afternoon and one of them put four people out of their homes.

At around 12:38 a.m. crews were called to 131 Lewis Street where smoke was pouring out of a large two and a half story building. A fire started in a second story apartment, said Rochester Fire Deputy Chief Ron Mendolera, but the unit’s two residents weren’t home at the time. Mendolera said the fire appeared to have been caused by an electrical problem.

Working smoke detectors alerted the two first-floor residents, who were able to escape uninjured. Crews had the fire under control in about 20 minutes. There was fire damage to the second floor unit and the attic and some smoke and water damage to the first floor. Both units are uninhabitable and Red Cross is assisting with housing.

A little under two hours later a fire broke out at 45 Morrill Street at around 2:30 p.m. The one and a half story building, which is vacant and boarded up, Mendolera said, was engulfed in flames. It took fire fighters about 30 minutes to get the blaze under control.

No one was in the building at the time of the fire and no one was injured fighting the blaze. Mendolera said the cause is under investigation.

Just over an hour later at 3:40 p.m. crews were alerted to a fire at another unoccupied structure at 445 Avenue D. That fire started on the rear of the first floor and was under control in 15 minutes. The cause is under investigation. No one was injured.

City firefighters battle morning fire in automotive garage
November 15, 2008

Rochester firefighters battled a difficult-to-reach fire at an automotive garage at 20 Rohr St. in the city just before 4 this morning.

When firefighters arrived on scene they found heavy fire conditions on one side of the metal building, along with thick smoke conditions throughout. Firefighters had to cut their way into the building in some circumstances in order to fight the fire.

"The bulk of the fire was in a room on the second floor in the rear," said Deputy Chief Scotty Williams of the Rochester Fire Department. "There were four vehicles inside the garage that did not receive direct fire damage, but were damaged by heat and falling debris."

Williams said that the amount of materials stored inside the building means extensive overhaul operations to make sure that the fire did not spread. The Fire Investigations Unit is investigating the fire, but because of the overhaul, the exact cause and origin "will not be determined until later today, if at all."

There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians, Williams said. The fire was determined to be under control right around 4:30.

Mayor Duffy to honor firefighters for rescuing children
November 14, 2008

Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy today will honor the city firefighters that rescued three young children from a burning house on Second Street in September. The firefighters will be commended at Duffy’s all-staff gathering at 11:30 a.m. in the City Hall atrium, 30 Church St.

About 12:30 a.m. Sept. 17, city firefighters responded to a fire at 192 Second St. and found three young children trapped in one of the rooms of the two-story duplex that was full of smoke. All three children — Kamari Allen-Holmes, 3; Dayveion Allen, 20 months; and Natalya Allen, 2 months — were unconscious when they were taken out of the house.

As of today, the children are all recovering from their injuries at Strong Memorial Hospital. Kamari and Dayveion, who were both burned on about 60 percent of their bodies, are both in guarded condition today, according to a hospital spokeswoman. The medical status of Natalya, who initially had burns on about 10 percent of her body, was not available.

Rochester Fire Chief John Caufield previously said that no adults were home at the time of the fire and that there were no working smoke detectors inside 192 Second St, which is where Allen’s mother, Brenda Allen, lived and where Nicole Allen, 20, and her children would often visit.

The cause of the fire was determined to be food that was left cooking on the stove. The fire started in the kitchen, which is toward the back of the house, and Nicole Allen said she was in the front of the house.

Rochester Police continue to investigate the incident. No charges have been filed.

Nelson St. apartment fire quickly controlled this morning
November 13, 2008

Rochester firefighters quickly controlled a fire in a large four-family apartment building at 5 Nelson St., off Henrietta Street, in Rochester about 5 this morning.

Deputy Chief Martin McMillan of the Rochester Fire Department said that the residents of the large building escaped safely and that there were no injuries.

“The first company came in the front (Nelson Street) and didn’t have a whole lot showing,” McMillan said. “The second company came down (Henrietta Street) and had flames blowing out the rear.”

McMillan said firefighters quickly got a handle on the fire.

“We were able, fortunately, to get a very quick knockdown on this fire,” McMillan said. “(Firefighters) were able to run up the front stairs, the fire was in the rear of the second floor. The first company on (the Nelson side) of the street was able to take a line and actually push it right out the back.”

McMillan said early morning fires are particularly worrisome.

“Anytime we get an early morning fire — like this — you assume, especially in an occupied structure, that it will catch people off guard,” he said.

McMillan said the involved apartment had working smoke detectors, which alerted the resident of the blaze.

There was extensive fire damage on the second floor, particularly in the room of origin, McMillan said. The first floor sustained some water damage and the fire also extended into the attic, he said.

The American Red Cross was on scene to assist apartment residents displaced by the fire. It was not clear if the other three apartments in the complex would also need to be temporarily vacated.

Firefighters are investigating, to determine the cause.

Suspicious fire damages Rochester house
November 12, 2008

City firefighters today are investigating a suspicious house fire in an unoccupied home in northeast Rochester.

Firefighters were called to a 2-½-story house at 31 Fair Place just before 5 a.m., said Deputy Chief Martin McMillan of the Rochester Fire Department. The first crews at the scene arrived to find flames rising from the first-floor bay window at the front of the single-family house, he said.

Firefighters quickly doused the bulk of the fire in about 20 minutes. No injuries were reported.

It appeared that the fire started on the first floor, McMillan said. There was extensive fire damage to the first floor of the house. The rest of the building sustained smoke and water damage, he said.

The residents had moved out of the house several days ago, and new tenants had not moved in yet, McMillan said.

Firefighters are investigating the incident to determine the cause.

Woman burned in electrical fire on Rochester's north side
November 8, 2008

A woman suffered burn injuries late Friday night after trying to extinguish a fire in the bedroom of her home at 74 St. Stanislaus St. on Rochester's north side.

The fire was reported about 11:25 p.m.

Deputy Chief Bill Curran of the Rochester Fire Department said that the woman had started a space heater in her bedroom, heard a popping sound, and then discovered a mattress on fire.

"She tried to fight the fire and she suffered some burns and her hair is burned off on the side of her head," Curran said. "She probably has about an inch of hair left on one side of her head."

Curran said the woman, who also had burn injuries on a shoulder, was taken by ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital for treatment.

"Fire took over the first floor of the building," Curran said. "The guys had to chase the fire a little bit."

Curran said the woman was fortunate not to have suffered more serious injuries.

"We always tell citizens that when they have a fire, to close a door behind them and to call us," Curran said. "Get out and close the door and let us do it. A lot of times when you see people fight fires, the fire gets worse and they don't really understand how fast the fire moves."

No injuries in house fire on Morrill Street in city
November 5, 2008

An electrical fire damaged a single-family house in northeast Rochester early today, according to the Rochester Fire Department.

City firefighters were called to 164 Morrill St., near North Clinton Avenue, just after midnight. Deputy Chief Scotty Williams of the Rochester Fire Department said investigators believe the fire was accidental, caused by an electrical problem with a light fixture in a first-floor bedroom. It took about 20 minutes to control the fire, he said.

The house was occupied, but nobody was home at the time of the fire, Williams said. No injuries were reported.

When firefighters arrived on scene, they found smoke showing from the 1 ½-story residence, Williams said. Inside, they found fire in a first-floor bedroom. The fire was contained to that room, but there was smoke damage to the rest of the house. The American Red Cross of Greater Rochester was assisting the occupants who were displaced by the fire, Williams said.

City firefighter falls through floor of burning building, but is uninjured
November 5, 2008

A Rochester firefighter fell through the floor of an Arnett Boulevard townhouse bathroom after 4 this morning, but was able to pull himself free and then escape along with a second firefighter through an upstairs window. Both firefighters were uninjured.

Firefighters were battling a fire in a four-townhouse complex at 120 Arnett, at the corner of Arnett and Genesee Street, when the incident occurred. Because of the size of the building, a second alarm was called immediately, and when the two firefighters found themselves in danger, a third alarm was called, said Deputy Chief Scotty Williams of the Rochester Fire Department.

When the firefighter fell through the floor, firefighters immediately went into a "mayday" operation to concentrate on getting him out safely, Williams said.

"Whenever we have a firefighter get in trouble in a fire situation and they need assistance right away," Williams said, "they call a 'mayday,' which basically shuts down all communication on the fire ground except that directly related to the rescue of the firefighter."

Williams said that a second firefighter in the bathroom where the two were working felt the floor start to give way, and he jumped into a bathtub so that he did not also fall through. The first firefighter did not fall all the way through to the first floor, and was able to pull himself free. Both firefighters made their way to safety down a ladder placed against the building by colleagues outside the townhouse.

"We have, at every fire, a team of at least four firefighters that are fully suited up, ready to assist in the event that we do have anyone get in trouble,' Williams said. "We call that a rapid-intervention team. At the moment we call a 'mayday,' our firefighter announces -- if able -- what the problem is and where they are located and what assistance they need, and we send the rapid-intervention team to assist."

Williams said that fire operations never lost contact with the firefighters in danger during the incident.

Williams said the fire was limited to one corner unit of the complex which was being renovated. There were no occupants living in any of the townhouses, which were also damaged in a fire several years ago.

"The fire is currently under investigation by our arson investigator," Williams said.

Blazes erupt in 2 vacant houses in city; 1 firefighter hurt
November 4, 2008

City firefighters early today battled fires in two vacant houses in Rochester. One firefighter was injured while battling one of the fires, at 37 Harris St.

Firefighters were called to the 1 ½-story house in northeast Rochester just before 5 a.m. and arrived to find heavy fire conditions, said Deputy Chief Scotty Williams of the Rochester Fire Department. The fire was brought under control in approximately 20 minutes, he said.

The injured firefighter, whose name was not released, was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital for treatment of a burn to the knee, Williams said. No other injuries were reported.

Several hours earlier, about 1:30 a.m., a neighbor reported smoke in the Glide Street area of northwest Rochester, Williams said. Firefighters arrived to find 566 Glide St. on fire and quickly extinguished the blaze.

The vacant house sustained moderate fire damage, mainly to the rear of the building, Williams said. No injuries were reported, he said.

Williams said firefighters had not determined the cause of the fires this morning. Officials are investigating.

Firefighters extinguish attic fire in northeast Rochester
November 3, 2008

City firefighters today are investigating an accidental fire that heavily damaged the attic of a home in northeast Rochester.

Firefighters were called to 358 Bernard St. just after 4:30 a.m., following a call that a 1 ½-story house was ablaze, said Deputy Chief Scotty Williams of the Rochester Fire Department. The first firefighters on the scene saw smoke rising from the attic, he said.

It took firefighters about 30 minutes to control the fire, Williams said. No injuries were reported. He added that it was not clear if the residents were home when the fire broke out. The attic sustained heavy fire damage and the structure’s first floor sustained moderate smoke damage, Williams said.

The American Red Cross of Greater Rochester is assisting two adults. Fire officials are investigating today, to determine the specific cause, Williams said.

Four displaced, dog dies in separate fires
October 31, 2008

Rochester firefighters stayed busy overnight, battling a pair of house fires within an hour of each other on different sides of the city.

Firefighters were called to 70 Mead St., off North Clinton Avenue, about midnight for what had been called in as a couch fire. Instead, firefighters found a large 21/2-story house engulfed in flames.

Deputy Chief Martin McMillan of the Rochester Fire Department said four people lived in two apartments in the house. No injuries were reported.

McMillan said in that in the majority of house fires in the city, firefighters can bring the fire under control with just one hose line. For this fire, however, he said that firefighters had four hose lines in operation.

“This was a tough fire for us,” he said and added that it took about 30 minutes to control the fire.

The entire house sustained significant fire damage, he said. Officials from the American Red Cross of Greater Rochester said the agency is assisting the residents displaced by the fire.

McMillan noted that although it appeared that the fire started with a couch on the front porch, the cause of the fire is under investigation. Shortly after discovering the burning sofa, a woman had tried to push the couch off the porch and left the porch door open, which allowed the fire to spread inside where “it just took off,” McMillan said.

Just before 12:50 a.m., firefighters were called to 3 Santee St. on the city’s west side.

Upon arrival, firefighters found nobody home at the 1 ½-story building, and it took some time to find the fire, which McMillan labeled “suspicious.” He said that it took firefighters about 30 minutes control that fire. It appeared that that fire started in the first floor of the house, he said.

Earlier last night, Rochester firefighters battled a house fire on Garfield Street, off Chili Avenue, on the city’s west side. That fire, which was considered accidental, claimed the life of a dog. Firefighters rescued a rabbit from the 2 ½ story house, McMillan said. The residents were not home when the fire broke out.

McMillan said firefighters were called to 77 Garfield St. just before 8 p.m. They controlled the fire within 20 minutes. Unattended cooking caused the fire, which heavily damaged the kitchen and dining room of the house, McMillan said.

The remainder of the house suffered from smoke and water damage, he said.
Red Cross officials said the agency is assisting the family displaced by the fire.

Vacant house burns on Evergreen Street
October 30, 2008

A vacant home in northeast Rochester was heavily damaged early today in an arson fire.

City firefighters were called to 96 Evergreen St. about 2:40 a.m. today to battle the blaze, said Deputy Chief Ron Mendolera of the Rochester Fire Department. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to control the fire. No injuries were reported.

Mendolera said the two-story house sustained heavy fire damage, mainly to the second floor and the roof of the building. The building, which is owned by the City of Rochester, is expected to be demolished within the week, he said.

Mendolera said it appeared that the fire was intentionally set in several different locations in the house, mostly on the second floor.

Evergreen Street is a residential road just southwest of the corner of North Clinton and Clifford avenues.

Six people rescued from Reynolds Street fire
October 28, 2008

City firefighters this morning rescued six people from a burning house in southwest Rochester.

Four of those people were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, said Deputy Chief Ron Mendolera of the Rochester Fire Department.

Firefighters were called to 317 Reynolds St. about 2:15 a.m. after a fire was reported in the three-story home, he said. The building was divided into four apartments.

Firefighters rescued four people from through a window of the second-floor apartment and rescued two more from a third-floor window, Mendolera said. A man jumped from a first-floor window before firefighters arrived at the scene.

Mendolera said the fire started in a rear bedroom on the first floor and spread to an adjacent kitchen. Flames also traveled out a rear window and up the exterior of the structure. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to control the fire, according to Monroe County emergency dispatchers.

The first floor bedroom and kitchen sustained moderate fire damage, as did the rear exterior of the house, he said. The remainder of the building sustained heat and smoke damage.

Mendolera noted that the smoke detectors were operating and alerted the residents of the fire. The American Red Cross of Greater Rochester is assisting the residents of the damaged structure. Firefighters are investigating, to determine the cause.

Smoke detectors help three escape fire
October 26, 2008

A woman and two friends escaped a house fire at 179 Leighton Ave. in Rochester about 2:20 Sunday morning.

Working smoke detectors helped the woman escape from the house and two friends off the front porch. A neighbor across the street on Leighton heard the smoke detectors going off and called the Rochester Fire Department.

Fire officials at the scene said the fire was caused by an electrical problem in the attic.

Firefighters battle serious blaze at Campbell and Saxton streets
October 25, 2008

Firefighters battled a severe blaze this afternoon at the corner of Saxton and Campbell streets on the city’s west side.

Early reports indicated there were four children trapped on the second floor of the two-family home, said Deputy Fire Chief Martin McMillan. As firefighters went up the staircase to the second floor, the front room on that floor “flashed over,” causing treacherous fire conditions, McMillan said. A flashover occurs when hot gases build up in an enclosed space and ignite spontaneously all at once.

Firefighters were pulled from the house after the flashover and began attacking the fire from outside, McMillan said. They were unable to conduct a search until the fire was knocked down.

The report of people trapped turned out to be incorrect, McMillan said. No one was home on the second floor at the time of the fire and no one was injured. The family on the first floor of the home was able to escape safely.

Investigators are on scene trying to figure out where the fire started and what caused it, McMillan said.

Vacant house heavily damaged by fire
October 23, 2008

It took Rochester firefighters about 45 minutes to bring a house fire under control at 27 Melville St. in the city early this morning.

When firefighters arrived on scene after 3:15, they found a vacant house fully engulfed in flames and smoke.

Deputy Fire Chief Scotty Williams said that because the stability of the structure was questionable, the fire was fought from the exterior.

Even though a gas grill sat outside the house, and there was a TV satellite dish on the roof, Williams said it appeared that the house had been vacant for some time.

Due to fire damage to the house, it will be razed later this morning, Williams said. Because it was unsafe for fire investigators to reach most areas of the structure, the exact cause and origin of the fire will remain undetermined.

Melville Street is located off Webster Avenue, a block north of Parcells Avenue, on the city's east side.