Nine people displaced by fire in Syracuse home

Syracuse, N.Y. — A fire heavily damaged a multifamily home on Syracuse’s North Side on Sunday afternoon, displacing nine people, fire officials said.

Around 1:41 p.m., firefighters saw heavy, dark smoke coming from a home at 1341 Butternut St., according to Syracuse Deputy Fire Chief Elton Davis.

Fire crews were already on Butternut Street handling a separate emergency — a vehicle had struck a building at 1312 Butternut St. — when they noticed smoke coming from the nearby home.

Arriving firefighters found heavy flames and smoke coming from two floors of the building. Four residents had already escaped before crews arrived to the home, Davis said.

Firefighters fought the fire from inside the home and searched the apartments after initial reports suggested someone might be trapped.

No injuries were reported.

Davis said it took about an hour to bring the fire under control.

Because nearby units were tied up at the earlier incident, additional engine and truck companies were called in from other parts of the city, Davis said. Firefighters remained at the scene to ensure all hot spots were extinguished once the fire was put out.

The two apartments in the building sustained significant damage, and heat from the fire caused damage to the outside of a neighboring home.

Davis said fire investigators are working to determine the cause. Nine people were displaced and are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.