Firefighters rushed to a possible structure fire on South Fulton Street after heavy smoke and flames poured from a garage behind an Auburn building.
The call came in at 10:36 a.m. Jan. 4, when Cayuga County 911 received a report of a fire at 118 South Fulton Street. The first fire company arrived within three minutes and found heavy smoke and fire coming from an attached two-story garage behind the structure.
Crews quickly stretched multiple handlines, but firefighters ran into an early challenge when the nearest fire hydrant was frozen and unusable. Crews relied on tank water from several fire apparatus until they were able to connect to another hydrant about 500 feet away at the northwest corner of East Genesee Street and North Fulton Street. That hydrant supplied water for the rest of the incident.
All occupants evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported. Fire officials requested a second alarm, bringing in off-duty firefighters to assist at the scene and maintain coverage for the rest of the city.
The attached garage and a nearby garage on Hoffman Street suffered smoke and fire damage. Officials said the apartments in the building were only minimally affected. Firefighters brought the fire under control in about one hour.
Displaced residents are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Several agencies assisted at the scene, including Auburn City Ambulance, the Auburn Police Department, the Auburn City Codes Department, the Auburn Department of Public Works, and NYSEG.
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