Write a commentFirefighters battled a challenging structure fire in a large 2 family home this morning at 147 East Second Street in the City of Oswego. Oswego Firefighters were dispatched at 7:13am.
They were immediately met with heavy fire conditions on the second floor of the home. Fire crews began an aggressive interior attack with multiple handlines, along with a primary search of both apartments. Firefighters were evacuated from the structure shortly after as the wind driven fire conditions became untenable. All occupants were reported out of the structure, and a dog was rescued from the blaze.
A third alarm was quickly declared, bringing in more apparatus and manpower from neighboring departments to assist. Firefighters spent the next 2 hours flowing water from multiple handlines and ladder trucks, dousing the flames. With the neighboring house less than 5 feet away from the fire, the priority quickly became protecting the exposure to the South. Firefighters placed multiple hoselines in strategic positions to prevent the neighboring house from catching fire.
The fire was declared knocked down at 9:58am. Firefighters continued to flow water through the roof and into the attic, while overhauling other areas to extinguish any hot spots. With the high winds, Oswego Firefighters are remaining on scene to ensure there are no flare ups.
Oswego Fire Chief Paul Conzone commended the Firefighters, saying, "This was a tremendous team effort by everyone involved here to keep this fire contained to the building of origin. The neighboring house was about 5 feet away and downwind of the fire. With 40 mph wind gusts during the fire, the fact that there is no fire damage to the neighboring house is incredible, and a testament to the excellent work done by everyone on scene."
The building of origin suffered heavy fire and water damage and is expected to be a total loss. City Officials will work with the property owner on next steps to secure the structure. No injuries were reported, two families are displaced. The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation.
The Oswego Fire Department was assisted at the scene by the City of Oswego Police, DPW, Codes, and Engineering Departments, Fulton Fire Department, Novelis Fire Department, Minetto Volunteer Fire Department, Scriba Volunteer Fire Department, Oswego County Fire Coordinators, National Grid, Menter Ambulance, and the Oswego County Mobile Air Cascade Unit.
The Oswego Town Volunteer Fire Department and the Novelis Fire Department assisted by covering several calls in the City of Oswego during the fire.
