Van Buren--The Red Cross is helping 16 people left homeless by a fire in the Red Coach Apartments Monday evening in Van Buren. Firefighters found a basement utility room engulfed in flames when they responded to a report of an apartment fire. The smoky fire drove families, including many in their pajamas, out onto the lawn along Idlewood Boulevard. In...
Van Buren--The Red Cross is helping 16 people left homeless by a fire in the Red Coach Apartments Monday evening in Van Buren.
Firefighters found a basement utility room engulfed in flames when they responded to a report of an apartment fire.
The smoky fire drove families, including many in their pajamas, out onto the lawn along Idlewood Boulevard. In the warm night air, one child grasped a teddy bear in one hand, a parent’s hand in the other.
The Onondaga County-based Disaster Action Team of the American Red Cross said the fire affected eight apartments.
Firefighters quickly knocked down the flames in the basement, said Baldwinsville Fire Department spokesman Tom Perkins, then went looking to see if the fire had spread between walls or along pipes.
Perkins said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
A man with burns on his hands was found outside the 12-unit apartment building when firefighters arrived. He declined to go to the hospital, Perkins said.
Perkins said he didn’t know the man’s name.
Two other people, believed to be residents of an apartment, were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters from Liverpool, Belgium Cold Springs, Lakeland and Warners joined Baldwinsville at the fire.