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A mother and her three-year-old daughter were taken to the hospital after being rescued from a fire at Rugby Square Apartments in Syracuse on Thursday (August 14). Firefighters responded to the call around 2:18 p.m., arriving at the scene on Fordham Road within three minutes. Smoke was seen coming from the second-floor windows of the three-story brick building.
According to WSYR-TV, the mother and child were trapped in their apartment, with the fire blocking the main exit. Firefighters from Truck 4 used a ladder to reach them through a window, successfully rescuing them. They were treated on the scene by EMS and transported to Upstate University Hospital for evaluation. Their current condition is unknown.
The fire, which started on the couch in the living room, was caused by smoking materials, as reported by CNY Central. The fire was contained to the second-floor apartment, but the rest of the building suffered smoke and water damage. The fire was controlled within 20 minutes and fully extinguished after 30 minutes.
No other injuries were reported, and the Red Cross is assisting the displaced occupants. Syracuse Police, American Medical Response, National Grid, and The Red Cross also responded to the scene. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.