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A fire on South Alvord Street in Syracuse early Sunday morning (June 1) left two people hospitalized. The blaze broke out around 5:30 a.m. in a two-story multi-family home, with smoke and flames visible from the second floor. Firefighters responded quickly to the scene after several neighbors reported the fire.
According to CNY Central, two individuals managed to escape through a window and onto the roof. One person jumped off the roof before firefighters could set up a ladder, while the second person was safely assisted down. Both were transported to Upstate University Hospital, one with significant burns and the other for smoke inhalation.
Deputy Chief James Farewell described the scene inside the home as having "near-zero visibility" due to heavy smoke. The fire, which started in the kitchen area of the second-floor apartment, was extinguished in about ten minutes. Firefighters managed to contain the blaze, preventing it from spreading to nearby homes, though the house next door suffered some damage to its siding. LocalSYR reported that the fire department credited appropriate staffing levels for their quick response and effective handling of the situation.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The American Red Cross is assisting those displaced by the fire. Fortunately, no firefighters were injured during the incident, according to Syracuse.com.