For the period of March 5 to 11, the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 117 calls.

• FIRE: A resident of the 1900 block of 15th Street discovered on March 5 that sometime in the previous week the interior of her car had been intentionally set on fire. The vehicle, which was parked and locked, sustained significant damage to the interior of the passenger compartment. The intense fire, which burned undetected, burned itself out due to the lack of oxygen in the closed vehicle. Fire investigators were called to the scene and have classified the fire as suspicious. Damage to the vehicle was extensive and placed in excess of $1,000.

• ACCIDENTS: Between 11:27 a.m. and 1:02 p.m. Sunday, fire department units responded to a series of automobile accidents that sent at least eight patients to area hospitals. The first, a multi-vehicle accident in the 2200 block of Hyde Park Boulevard sent a total of five patients to area hospitals and required assistance from Niagara County in providing ambulances. Niagara Falls firefighters arrived and once they were able to stabilize the vehicles, initiated patient care. While none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, most of the five had a cervical collar applied and were secured to a backboard to prevent additional injury. Less than an hour later, firefighters were dispatched to the 500 block of Hyde Park Boulevard for yet another accident. Firefighters arrived on the scene and, at first glance, this accident initially appeared to be very serious. Damage to the vehicle was extensive and firefighters used a combination of hand tools as well as the “Jaws of Life” to gain access to the patients. Once firefighters were able to “open up” the vehicle and make contact with the occupants they determined that, despite suffering both neck and back injuries, both occupants appeared to be stable. At 1:02 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to the 3600 block of Packard Road for the third automobile accident in less than two hours. Again, initial indications were that the occupants sustained serious injuries and the assistance of Mercy Flight was requested. The combination of seat belts and airbags prevented serious injury to the patients and Mercy Flight was allowed to return to the airport. The occupants of the vehicle were evaluated and treated on the scene by department EMTs and were transported to a local hospital.

• FIRE: At 1:31 a.m. Thursday, Engine 3 and Truck 1 were dispatched to a reported auto fire at the intersection of Hyde Park Boulevard and Lockport Street. The engine arrived on the scene and found a vehicle in the parking lot of an automobile repair facility, well involved in fire. The intense fire, which consumed almost 100 percent of the vehicle, was threatening other nearby vehicles. Aggressive deployment of a hoseline allowed firefighters to rapidly control the fire before it could cause significant damage to the other vehicles. Fire investigators have determined that the fire was most likely intentionally set. This is the third incident in as many weeks in which vehicles at repair shops have been set ablaze or removed from the lot without authorization.

• FIRE: Smoke filled the sky as neighbors in the 1600 block of Cleveland Avenue frantically dialed 911 on Thursday to report a structure fire with the possibility of people trapped. Engine 3 from the Ontario Avenue fire station arrived on the scene at 12:11 p.m. and confirmed the working fire. Despite the fact the fire was venting from the side of the house and threatening to involve an adjacent home, the report of people trapped required that the first hoseline be deployed into the building. The members of the engine crew pushed into the blinding smoke and searing heat to combat the flames while members of the truck company found the interior stairs and made their way to the second floor to initiate a search. The fire, which had control of the majority of the first floor, was pushed back and other members of the department attempted to reduce the heat and improve visibility by removing windows. Additional hoselines were deployed into the alleyway between the home on fire and the endangered home to prevent it from becoming involved in fire. After an exhaustive search, it was determined that nobody was in the home. The majority of the fire damage was confined to the first floor with some minor extension to the upper levels. The remainder of the structure suffered significant heat and smoke damage. Fire investigators have determined that the fire originated in the kitchen and was most likely caused by unattended cooking. The home while equipped with smoke alarms, none of the alarms activated due to missing batteries. Fire damage to the structure and contents was in excess of $45,000.