Fatal Fire At Villa Serene Apartments; Up-State New York 12.03.2014

ELMIRA HEIGHTS, N.Y.
Firefighters responded to the Villa Serene Apartment Complex at 399 East 14th St. at 4:48 a.m. Wednesday, where a blaze broke out on the 11th-floor. Multiple fire departments responded to the scene.
  
Fire officials have confirmed one death; Bernard G. Marshall, 63, died after falling from his apartment window that was on the 11th floor of the 12 story building.

 

 

"The fire appears to have started and was mostly contained to apartment 1103, which was the apartment of Marshall," according to Elmira Heights Police Chief Rick Churches said in a news release. "Marshall did fall from his apartment window, which was on the 11th floor of the 12-story building. Although cause of death cannot be stated at this point Marshall did appear to be escaping the intense flames and smoke that was coming from the apartment."

 

"The building is built in a way that contained it [the fire]," said Elmira Heights Fire Chief Michael Cadek. "The fire had a really good head start because it was already blowing out the window when we got the call."

 

The fire was under control by 5:15 a.m. Firefighters used a special technique to combat the flames

 

"We have an aerial device that we used to hit it [the fire] from the outside," said Fire Chief Cadek. "And then once we hit the majority of it, the crews went inside, because they had to climb up 11 floors to get there, then they made the initial attack from the inside."

 

120 people were evacuated from the building. Some units sustained water damage from the fire response. While some people were able to move back into the building by Wednesday evening, others will be out for a few days.

 

The Red Cross is assisting those displaced. Residents are staying optimistic. 

  

Chemung County Fire Investigators, New York State Fire Investigators and Elmira Heights Police are investigating the cause of the fire.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Two Buffalo, New York Fires 05.12.2012

Buffalo Firefighters responded early this morning at 0031 hrs for a report of a structure fire on Walden Ave. . Fire was showing from the rear of a two story vacant dwelling. There was reported fire on the first  floor with possible extension to the second floor and attic. It was by  further reported by firefighting crews the building structurally compromised and ordered defensive operations.




Buffalo Firefighters also responded to a fatal blaze at 2972 Bailey early this morning at 0055 hrs for a report of a structure fire on Bailey Ave.. The building is a mixed-use commercial and residential building.

The victim, John Ciszek, 59 years old, was unable to make it out lived in a rear apartment of the two-story building at 2972 Bailey,  and was pronounced dead on the scene. Mr John Ciszek's roommate Joseph Balsano said,"I heard the smoke alarm going off. That's what woke me up," then Balsano attempted to get access to the victim  but failed, escaped.

Buffalo Fire Department Division Chief Patrick Britzzalaro described "heavy fire conditions" in the first floor rear apartment where the two roommates lived.



Firefighting crews arrived with fire showing from a 1 1/2 story mixed use building and a report of a victim inside. There was reported heavy fire on the first floor of the occupied building with an exposure problem  and a requested for additional firefighting crews to the fire scene. The fire was under control in 36 minutes.





(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Pennsylvania Rowhome Fire, Three Children, One Adult Killed 3.27.2012

A vigil is planned for Wednesday night for the woman and three children who died Tuesday in a fire in Schuylkill County.

It comes as investigators search for the cause of the deadly blaze.

SHENANDOAH, Pa. - A fire destroyed five row homes in northeastern Pennsylvania early Tuesday, killing a woman and three children in one house while a fourth child managed to escape out a second floor window as the flames closed in, fire officials said.

The blaze spread quickly, and the buildings were fully engulfed when crews arrived within minutes of the 6:30 a.m. call. Firefighters attempted a rescue, but they made it only a short distance inside the front door of the victims' home before having to retreat.

"The fire was too intense," said Shenandoah Fire Chief Richard Mensick.

Four people, three of them children, died early Tuesday morning when fire raced through five row homes in Shenandoah. The dead included a 28-year-old woman, two ten year olds and a baby.

As the sad news rapidly spread through Shenandoah, the offerings of balloons, candles and flowers grew on East Coal Street, as people came to grieve for the young mother and three children killed in an early morning fire.

Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan said Matejick Snyder and the three children all appeared to have died of smoke inhalation and ruled the manner of death accidental due to the fire.

State police fire marshal will be investigating and determine how the fire started. Cause of the fire is being labeled "undetermined" while the investigation continues.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

1 dead, 2 hurt in Waverly NY Apartment House Fire

Waverly firefighters, the Sayre Fire Department and Greater Valley Emergency Medical Services from Sayre, Pennsylvania, responded to an early morning fire 2:30 Friday morning at 7 Ithaca Street, Waverly NY in Tioga County. Waverly-Barton Fire Officials said when they arrived at the scene; smoke and fire were spewing out of the home. "On arrival, we found the house fully involved in fire," said Jeff Wheeler, first assistant fire chief of the Waverly Barton Fire Department.

There were two other people in the upstairs apartment that had to jump to safety before we were on the scene" said Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Waverly. Firefighters pulled one person out of the downstairs apartment. A Waverly man that was taken to Robert Packer Hospita is dead after the fire that took place in Tioga County, New York. The two other persons taken to the hospital had non-life threatening injuries.

After about an hour of firefighting the fire was knocked down and brought under control, with firefighting crews staying on the fireground scene till 10 a.m. to ensure no rekindle of fire would happen.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Tioga County Fire Investigators and Waverly Village Police are conducting the investigation.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Brooklyn NY: A Fatal 5 Alarm Blaze

On February 19, 2011 at around 6:30 pm, that evening, a five-alarm fire response was rung out for a fire at an apartment building located in Flatbush of Brooklyn, New York at 346 East 29th Street. Nearly 200 firefighters responded to the scene to battle the blaze.

A "Defensive Mode" of fighting the fire was conducted upon arrival of NYFD fire fighting crews because conditions were just too intense on the inside the apartment building.

"Conditions changed rapidly. The fire intensified, the windows failed. Due to the heavy wind, it blew the fire in, on the members on the upper floors...a blowtorch effect. It actually chased them down the hallway," said New York City Fire Department Deputy Chief Stephen Moro.

"This was bad because of the wind," stated Fire Chief Edward Kilduff, "We had to evacuate very quickly because basically the fire chased us right down the hall and down the stairs

Strong winds fanned the flames which took 200 firefighters more than nine hours to contain.

Fire officials say 60 firefighters were treated for injuries along with 11 building residents.

A wind-whipped blaze tore like a "blow torch" through a Brooklyn apartment building, killing a retired school guidance counselor who was discovered on the top floor of apartment building several hours after the fire was extinguished. The victim, Mary Feagin, 64, was described by residents as a wonderful neighbor who had lived in the building for roughly 30 years. "She cared for everybody in the apartment, in the building. She cared for everybody in the building, for everybody's well-being. She was just a wonderful, wonderful woman," said one of the apartment tenants stated. The city medical examiner stated the cause of death is pending further testing and investigation.

A dispatching error delayed the response of a second engine company to Saturdays deadly 5 alarm fire in Brooklyn, the FDNY is launching an internal probe into the matter.

A front door to the forth-floor apartment where the fire began was left open, feed the vicious flames. The open door helped fuel the blaze causing the fire to “blowtorch” throughout the building.

Uniform Firefighters Association President Steve Cassidy says the staff cuts caused delays in getting water on the Saturday night blaze in Brooklyn.

The FDNY says that an open apartment door helped fuel the blaze, and it stoked by heavey winds.

The firefighters union said the response to the fire was hampered by new city rules that put four firefighters instead of five on some trucks.

New York City officials denied that clam.

The New York City Fire Department says the 5 alarm fire spread so quickly because someone left the door open in the apartment where it stated with strong winds fanned the flames the fatal night.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but NYFD Deputy Chief Moro said it did not appear to be suspicious.

FoX News: Brooklyn Blaze Kills 1, Injures More Than 20 Firefighters

NY1: Woman's Body Found In Wake Of Massive Brooklyn Fire

NY Daily News: Five-alarm blaze rips through Brooklyn building; 1 dead, 20 firefighters & 11 residents wounded

NY Post: Five-alarm Brooklyn fire leaves one dead

NY1: UFA: Engine Co. Reductions Hindered Response To Fatal Brooklyn Fire

NY Daily News: Open door turned Brooklyn fire into deadly inferno, fire officials say

The New York Times: Error Delayed Fire Dept. in Fatal Brooklyn Blaze

NY1: FDNY Investigates Delayed Response To Fatal Brooklyn Fire

(AP): New York City firefighters union blames fatal fire on staff shortage

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Binghamtom NY: Fatal Apartment Fire, One Person Dead In Blaze

Binghamtom New York: There was a fatal morning apartment fire yesterday that resulted in a tragic loss of life to one of the nine tenants that resided in the building. One person was found dead on the second floor.

Crews were called to an apartment building at 116 Henry St around 11 a.m.. They were able to get the fire under control quickly and most of the damage was contained to the second floor.

"First arriving companies did in fact find smoke showing from the building, made a very aggressive attack inside searching for fire, did find and knock down, I'm sad to say we did have one fatality" said Binghamton Fire Chief Daniel Thomas.

It was reported that the man who died in the fire and was a tenant of the apartment building had initially exited & escaped the burning building but re-entered to help fight the fire.

Once you have exited and escape any burning structural fire you should NEVER re-enter. In the case of this fire we will never know exactly why there was a re-enter by the fire victim, but the tragic result was the loss of his life.

No firefighters were injured in the blaze and surviving tenants were not injured also.

Fire officials believe the fire started in the victim's apartment. Investigators are stll looking into what started the fire.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

NFPA: U.S. home heating fires still represent a leading cause of home fires and fatalities

NEWS RELEASES:

NFPA says basic safety precautions can minimize risk to associated fires

As temperatures drop in the months ahead, home heating systems will fast kick into gear. However, some of the heat sources that make us feel warm and toasty also represent a leading cause of U.S. home fires and fire fatalities. According to the nonprofit

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)’s latest U.S. home heating fires report (PDF, 739 KB),

heating equipment - primarily space heaters and fireplaces - caused an estimated 66,100 home structure fires resulting in 480 civilian deaths, 1,660 injuries and $1.1 billion in direct property damage in 2008. The estimated home heating fire total declined 0.5% from 2007.

Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of communications, says the latest home heating fire statistics signal that while we’re seeing a downward trend, there’s still much room for improvement. “We’ve certainly witnessed some declines in home heating fire rates over the short- and long-term, which is encouraging,” says Carli. “But in spite of those gains, the actual number of home heating fires and their devastating impact on people and property each year is simply way too high. There’s still much more we can do become safer from these types of fires.”

Space heaters result in far more fires and losses than central heating devices. On average, between 2004 and 2008, fixed (stationary) and portable space heaters (excluding fireplaces, chimneys, and chimney connectors, but including wood stoves) annually accounted for one-third (32%) of reported U.S. home heating fires, four out of five (82%) associated civilian deaths, nearly two-thirds (64%) of associated civilian injuries, and half (51%) of associated direct property damage.

In addition, an estimated 15,200 reported creosote fires (23% of all home heating fires) resulted in four civilian deaths, 17 civilian injuries, and $33 million in direct property damage, on average, each year from 2004-2008. Creosote is a sticky, oily, combustible substance created when wood does not burn completely. It rises into the chimney as a liquid and deposits on the chimney wall. It’s suspected that most creosote fires combine “failure-to-clean” fires that were confined to a chimney or flue, or involved solid-fueled space heaters, fireplaces, chimneys and chimney connectors.

Half (49%) of all home heating fires occurred in December, January and February, with most heating equipment fires starting due to a failure to clean equipment (25%), placing a heat source too close to combustibles (14%), and unclassified mechanical failures or malfunctions (13%). The leading cause of home heating fire deaths (52%) was heating equipment being placed too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding.

“Because home heating fires are largely the result of human error, the majority of them are preventable,” says Carli. “By following basic safety precautions and making some simple modifications and adjustments, people can greatly reduce their risk.”

As everyone prepares for the upcoming heating season, NFPA offers the following advice to stay warm and fire-safe:

• All heaters need space. Keep things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.
• Use heating equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
• Install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instruction. Have a qualified professional install the equipment.
• Make sure all fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is created when fuels burn incompletely. CO poisoning can cause illness and even death.
• Make sure the venting for exhaust is kept clear and unobstructed. This includes removal of snow around the outlet to the outside.
• Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms inside your home to provide early warning of carbon monoxide.
• Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
• Turn space heaters off when you leave a room or go to sleep.

In an effort to reduce winter fires, NFPA is partnering with the U.S. Fire Administration on a special campaign – Put a Freeze on Winter Fires. For more information, visit NFPA’s website at www.nfpa.org/winter.

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
NFPA is a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Space Heaters Cause Fatal Fires…

Space heaters involved in 79 percent of fatal home heating fires

NFPA urges caution as peak time for heating fires continues

While only 32 percent of home heating fires involve space heaters, they are involved in 79 percent of home heating fire deaths, according to the new report Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment released, February 11, 2010, by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Heating equipment continues to be the second leading cause of home fires behind cooking and the second leading cause of home fire deaths behind smoking.

NFPA is urging caution and asking the public to practice safe heating behaviors as the peak time for home heating fires continues; half of all home heating fires occurred in December, January and February in 2003-2007.

“Half of fatal home space heater fires started because something was too close to the heater and ignited. Keep heaters and things that can burn at least three feet apart,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of communications. “Heating fires and the deaths they cause can usually be prevented with awareness and a few simple actions.”

The leading factor contributing to space heater fires in general was heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding. Other leading factors contributing to home space heater fires were failure to clean, which is principally related to creosote build-up in chimneys, and leaving an operating space heater unattended.

“Whether your chimney supports a wood or coal stove or just a fireplace, be sure to have it cleaned and inspected at least once a year to reduce your risk of having a fire,” added Carli. “And always turn off a portable space heater when you go to sleep or leave the room.”

In 2007, U.S. fire departments responded to 66,400 home structure fires that involved heating equipment. These fires killed 580 people, injured another 1,850, and were responsible for $608 million in direct property damage.

NFPA offers the following safety tips.

Heating

* Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.

* Supervise children when a fireplace, fire pit, or other space heater is being used. Use a sturdy, metal screen to prevent contact burns, which are even more common than flame burns.

*All heaters need space. Keep things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.

* Use heating equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.

* Never use your oven for heating.

* Install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment, according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.

- Have a qualified professional install the equipment.
- Make sure all fuel-burning vented equipment is vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. CO is created when fuels burn incompletely. CO poisoning can cause illness and even death. Make sure the venting for exhaust is kept clear and unobstructed. This includes removal of snow and ice around the outlet to the outside.

* Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms to avoid risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

* Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.

Portable electric space heaters

* Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.

* Use and purchase portable space heaters with an automatic shut off so if they’re tipped over they will shut off.

* Place space heater on solid, flat surface.

* Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord.

* Inspect for cracked or damaged, broken plugs or loose connections. Replace before using.

Fuel burning space heaters

* Always use the proper fuel as specified by the manufacturer.

* When refueling, allow the appliance to cool and refuel outside or in a well-ventilated area.

* When using the heater, open a window to ensure proper ventilation.

* In portable kerosene or other liquid-fueled space heaters, always use the proper grade of the proper fuel.

* All new unvented gas-fired space heaters have an oxygen depletion sensor that detects a reduced level of oxygen in the area where the heater is operating and shuts off the heater before a hazardous level of carbon monoxide accumulates. If you have an older heater without this feature, replace it.

* If the pilot light of your gas heater goes out, allow 5 minutes or more for the gas to go away before trying again, do not allow gas to accumulate, and light the match before you turn on the gas to the pilot to avoid risk of flashback.

* If you smell gas in your gas heater, do not attempt to light the appliance. Turn off all the controls and open doors and window. Call a gas service person.

Wood burning stoves

* Install the stove, chimney connectors and chimneys following manufacturer’s instructions or have a professional do the installation.

* Wood stoves should bear the label of a recognized testing laboratory.

* In wood stoves, burn only dry, seasoned wood. In pellet stoves, burn only dry, seasoned wood pellets.

* Start the fire with newspaper or kindling, never with a flammable liquid, such as lighter fluid, kerosene or gasoline.

* Keep the doors of your wood stove closed unless loading or stoking the live fire.

* Allow ashes to cool before disposing. Dispose of ashes in a tightly covered metal container and keep the ash container at least 10 feet away from the home and any other nearby buildings. Douse and saturate with water.

* Chimneys and vents need to be cleaned and inspected at least once a year.

NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; this is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

SMOKE DETECTOR SOUNDS! REACT!

There was a fatal fire in East Baltimore where four people died last week. One of the four victims was a 2-year-old girl. Very tragic.

It was first thought that there were no smoke detectors located in the row house where the fire and fatalities took place. For this fatal fire though there were active smoke detectors. The fire itself was under control by the Baltimore Fire Department in less than an hour.

So what happen? Why did it happen? How could it happen? These are the questions I ask myself when I read a news story such as the one that happen in East Baltimore when there were working smoke detectors present. We may never know.

I do know that it’s not a secret that with working smoke detectors installed in the home they can save lives when properly maintained. Smoke detectors have saved lives and you only need to look at the number of lives they have saved on past fire emergencies.

There was a fire almost the same day as the East Baltimore fatal fire in Albany, GA, in Worth County where everyone got out of the home safely because of having working smoke detectors.

Here are two fires that happen this past week, that were 16 hours apart, both had working/active smoke detectors, the fires in two different parts of the country, but had two different outcomes.

We may never know what prevented the four individuals at the East Baltimore fire from getting out of their home.

What must continue though are fire prevention practice of knowing what to do when you hear a smoke detector sounds off, because there may only be a minute or two to react in getting yourself and love ones out of the home to safety.

Have smoke detectors installed strategically placed, one detector on each level of the home so they can be effective.

Go over with your family members what should be done if a fire starts and how to react when the smoke detector sounds. Make sure you neighbors and co-workers have smoke alarms, test them monthly, and a plan to get out of a fire situation alive.

If a fire occurred in your home or workplace, would you know how to respond? The prevention of fires should be your number one goal with regard to fire safety practices.

However, when your efforts fail, knowing how to react in a fire situation could save lives, including your own.

A quick way to remember the correct steps to take is to remember the acronym ACTS.

Activate the alarm by shouting “Fire, Fire!” If there’s a fire alarm system, activate it!

Call the fire department as quickly as you can. Call 911 and give the dispatcher all the information. Don’t hang up the phone until the dispatcher does or unless your in immediate danger from the fire.

Take people to safety. Ensure everyone evacuates the home or building.

Show the fire department personnel. Meet the fire department when they arrive so you can explain the situation to them.

Finally, if possible, before fire fighting personnel arrive, attempt to extinguish the fire if you can and only if you can do so without endangering yourself. The sooner you act, the easier the fire will be extinguished. You don’t have much time during a fire situation to prevent even a small fire from escalating to a major one.

Remember that the most important thing to do when there is a fire is to react immediately when that smoke detector sounds. Get love ones as well as yourself out and away to safety from the building that’s on fire. In most fire situations you may only have a matter of minutes to react.

In a fire, everything can be lost. Property and other things if lost can be replaced. Family and friends are to precious to each and everyone to be lost in a fire. If we are able to react quickly when it’s required, then you’ll be grateful to walk away from a fire situation knowing you still have the people you care about and love with you.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)