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.)

USFA LODD – South Carolina Fire Lieutenant On-Duty Death 12.03.14

Lieutenant John Burns, 50, on December 3, 2014 at 0645hrs, was discovered by other firefighters unresponsive in his bed at the fire station early in the morning where he was pronounced deceased from a nature and cause of fatal injury still to be determined. In addition to other duties, Lieutenant Burns had responded to one or more emergency alarms earlier during his shift.  

Our condolences to the Burns Family & Friends, the Myrtle Beach Fire Department, and to all affected by Fire Fighter John Burns’ passing.

To date, 82 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2014. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fatality Notices page.



(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.) 


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2-Alarm Apartment Fire; Binghamton New York 12.01.2014

BINGHAMTON, N.Y.
Binghamton firefighters responded about 2:20 p.m. , to a fire call at 26 Stuyvesant Street. A building housing two apartments left all residents without a place to live, Binghamton Fire Chief Daniel Thomas said.



The two-alarm blaze caused extensive damage to an apartment house in downtown Binghamton this afternoon.

Chief Thomas said the fire was primarily on the top floor, but investigators have not nailed down a cause or an origin yet.



Chief Thomas said the fire was primarily on the top floor, but investigators have not nailed down a cause or an origin yet.

When firefighters arrived on scene, they tried to go into the building, but the fire was too fierce, so crews had to attack it from the outside, according to the Fire Chief Thomas.

It was reported two cats which had been in the burning building were rescued by firefighters.

Fire investigators were on the scene to begin looking for the cause of the blaze.

No one was reported hurt.



(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.) 

USFA LODD: Ohio Firefighter-EMT On-Duty Death 11.28.2014

Firefighter-EMT Tom Rhamey, 71, on November 18, 2014 at 1350hrs, fell ill while working at the scene of a residential structure fire. Firefighter-EMT Tom Rhamey was treated and transported by Western Holmes County EMS to Wooster Community Hospital and subsequently flown to Akron City Hospital where he remained in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit until his passing on November 28, 2014.

        

Our condolences to the Rhamey Family & Friends, the Western Holmes County Fire and EMS - Lakeville Station, and to all affected by Fire Fighter - EMT Tom Rhamey's passing.

     

To date, 81 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2014. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fatality Notices page. 

(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.)