Syracuse Sun

On May 22, 2024, at 12:38 a.m., Syracuse firefighters were alerted by the Onondaga County 911 Center to a reported structure fire at 634 East Division Street on the city’s North Side. Firefighters from Station 2 on Lodi Street arrived shortly after and found a two-story house fully engulfed in flames. Crews reported heavy fire emanating from the first floor, second floor, and roof of the vacant structure. A signal ‘99’ was transmitted.

Due to the advanced stage of the fire and concerns over the building's structural integrity, crews initiated a defensive exterior operation. The first arriving companies connected to a hydrant and deployed 'master stream' appliances capable of flowing 500-1000 gallons of water per minute to douse the flames from outside. As additional units arrived, they connected to more hydrants in the area to ensure sufficient water supply for the operation.

Firefighters positioned themselves on all four sides of the building and continued to flow water. Radiant heat from the intense flames posed a threat to neighboring homes, prompting rescue crews to evacuate occupants from adjacent properties. Elevated waterways capable of flowing 1000 gallons per minute were used to combat the blaze from above.

Additional fire companies were summoned to assist with extinguishment efforts. Firefighters worked for nearly five hours before bringing the fire under control. The home suffered extensive damage due to fire, smoke, and water across all floors and is considered a total loss.

Syracuse Fire Investigators are working to determine the origin and cause of the fire; their investigation is ongoing. Crews remained on-site for nearly five hours post-extinguishment, with firefighters from across the city assisting in cleanup operations.

A rehab sector was established at the scene to monitor firefighters' conditions due to high temperatures and humidity. CENTRO provided a bus that served as a cooling station for recovery purposes.

No injuries were reported among civilians or Fire Department personnel during this incident. In total, 60 Fire Department personnel, including command and support staff, responded alongside Syracuse Fire Department Ambulance, Syracuse Police, American Medical Response (AMR), National Grid, CENTRO, and the American Red Cross.

The Syracuse Fire Department expressed gratitude towards their partners at "the 911 center," SPD (Syracuse Police Department), AMR (American Medical Response), National Grid, CENTRO (Central New York Regional Transportation Authority), and "the Red Cross."

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