PRESS RELEASE
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2005
AMHERST HOUSE FIRE CAUSES $175,000.00 DAMAGE
The Main-Transit Fire
Department of Amherst, NY responded to a reported house fire on Saturday,
February 05, 2005 at 77 Oakland Road, Amherst, NY. The occupants of the house
called 911 and the Central Fire Alarm Office alerted Main-Transit Firefighters
at 1:15 PM. Main-Transit Firefighters arrived at 1:19 PM and found heavy smoke
pouring from the 2 ½ story, two family duplex. As firefighters were advancing
hoselines into the front of the house, the right side windows of the house
blew heavy fire out of the basement window and side door. The Snyder Fire
Department was alerted for a F.A.S.T. team (Firefighter Assist and Search
Team) response. The basement was heavily involved in fire and the fire was
quickly advancing through the first and second floors. Firefighters extinguished
the heavy fire with numerous hose lines and Firefighting teams.
The fire caused $125,000.00 damage
to the structure, and $50,000.00 damage to the contents, for a total of $175,000.00.
Fire Chief Robert Karl commanded 60 Main-Transit Firefighters and 7 Snyder
Firefighters.
The residents were home at the time
of the fire and the resident on the left side heard the smoke detector on
the right side of the duplex alarming. He went to check on his mother, who
lives on the right side, and she was just exiting the shower. They both went
to the basement to check the smoke alarm and found the heavy fire in the basement.
They immediately left the house and sent a family member down to a neighbor's
house to call 911.
Fire Chief Karl determined the cause
to be where a laundry chute dropped the laundry right next to the hot water
tank and onto the basement floor. The hot water tank had a pilot light/flame
that ignited the clothes that were stacked next to the hot water tank. Once
the clothes started on fire the entire basement went up in flames.
There were no injuries reported to
the families or Firefighters. The Amherst Central Fire Alarm Office, Amherst
Police, Amherst Fire Inspector Al Weisser, Twin City Ambulance, and the Snyder
Fire Department assisted the Main-Transit Fire Department at the scene.
If there are any questions, which
may be answered by phone, please call us at 716-632-9710 and ask for Fire
Chief Karl. Thank you in advance.
Firematically yours,
Carl O. Fischer, Jr.
Public Information Officer
Main-Transit Fire Department
