Syracuse, NY - Syracuse police Officer Angela Mahar spotted a fire at a West Onondaga Street apartment early this morning, and then she and two other officers made sure two residents got out of the six-apartment complex safely, officials said. The officers were nearby, on Rich Street, at 1:47 a.m. when Mahar saw the fire coming out of an apartment...
Syracuse, NY - Syracuse police Officer Angela Mahar spotted a fire at a West Onondaga Street apartment early this morning, and then she and two other officers made sure two residents got out of the six-apartment complex safely, officials said.
The officers were nearby, on Rich Street, at 1:47 a.m. when Mahar saw the fire coming out of an apartment window at 685 W. Onondgaa St., at the corner of Rich Street, said Sgt. Gary Bulinski.
Mahar and Officers Chris Dominick and Jeff McManus alerted 911, then entered the burning building, Bulinksi said.
They knocked on the doors to all six apartments, alerted residents of the fire and made sure everyone got out safely, said Syracuse Fire Lt. Ken Heffernan said. The fire was contained to the sofa in the living room of Apartment 5 in the basement, where two men were sleeping. Both men got out of the apartment safely after the police officers knocked on the door, Heffernan said.
Heffernan, a fire investigator, said careless smoking caused the fire. It is unknown who was smoking, he said.
The man who lives in the apartment was sleeping in his bed at the time of the fire, Heffernan said. A woman had left the apartment sometime before the fire, he said. And a man visiting the apartment fell asleep on the couch, Heffernan said.
Everyone got out of the apartment safely. The police officers who walked into the smoky apartment building were checked for possible smoke inhalation, but none required medical treatment, Heffernan said.
A Disaster Action Team from the American Red Cross is helping the man who lived in the apartment. The Red Cross said he has been temporarily relocated because of "heavy damage" to the apartment.
The Disaster Action Team is a group of volunteers trained in administering to the needs of victims of disasters. The Red Cross helps provide temporary emergency shelter, emotional support, and financial assistance for food, and to replace clothes and medications, according to a news release.