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Four firefighters in Syracuse are recovering after sustaining heat-related injuries while battling a house fire on Highland Street on Monday (June 23). The fire, which was reported at 11:05 a.m., occurred in a two-and-a-half-story multi-family house where smoke was seen coming from the attic.
According to the Syracuse Fire Department, the blaze was caused by an electrical malfunction and was contained within 30 minutes. Although multiple people were home at the time, they were alerted by other residents and evacuated safely. However, Apartment 3 suffered smoke and fire damage, and other parts of the building were also affected.
Three of the injured firefighters were taken to a hospital, while one was treated at the scene and released. Their conditions have not been disclosed. The fire department took extra precautions due to the extreme heat, rotating fresh teams and providing additional rest and hydration. Earlier that morning, firefighters had responded to another blaze on East Seneca Turnpike, caused by unattended cooking, which was extinguished in 20 minutes.