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An investigation is underway following a fire at a vacant house in Syracuse. Firefighters responded to the blaze early Saturday morning (October 25) at 213 Lincoln Avenue, where they found heavy smoke and flames engulfing the back of the 2-1/2 story house. Crews battled the fire for over an hour, and it took more than five hours to fully extinguish the flames.
According to Syracuse.com, two individuals inside the house escaped safely before the firefighters arrived. The structure was boarded up and vacant, and officials have not confirmed whether the individuals were squatters. The house suffered significant damage, including a partial collapse and an unstable chimney, making it unsafe for firefighters to enter.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. During the investigation, LocalSYR reported that a man named Durban Seymour was arrested for interfering with the investigation. This incident is part of a concerning pattern in Syracuse, where many fires have occurred in vacant homes. Last year, 25 out of 87 structure fires in the city were in buildings with no legal residents.
Fire Chief Michael Monds highlighted the challenges of dealing with fires in vacant buildings, noting the lack of information about the safety of these structures. As the colder months approach, the risk of fires in vacant homes may increase, as homeless individuals often seek shelter in these buildings. City auditor Alex Marion has urged the city to mark unsafe vacant houses with red X signs to prevent potential dangers.