Thursday, September 8, 2016

A 62-year-old man died of apparent smoke inhalation in a house fire on Peoria Avenue in Cheektowaga, NY



Video: Fatal NY house fire — 2 firefighters knocked down by out of control hose
Sep 7, 2016

Raw video and radio traffic from Don Murtha (Erie County New York Incidents) taken Monday during a fatal house fire at 93 Peoria Avenue in Cheektowaga, New York (Erie County). One man was found dead at the top of the stairs (more details below).

At 5:50 into the video two firefighters were knocked down by a runaway hoseline and multiple firefighters were treated at the scene for heat exhaustion. The evacuation of the home is ordered around 6:50.






Here’s some of what Don wrote about the fire:


Heavy clutter on 2nd floor slows operations and fire consumes attic and garage area. Additional crews are called to scene for manpower and water supply. Bellevue crew ventilates roof shortly after crews are pulled out due to roof collapsing. Multiple FFs are treated on scene for heat exhaustion. Winchester & Rescue crews access house from the rear yards with multiple lines.

Jonatahan D. Epstein, The Buffalo News:


A 62-year-old man died of apparent smoke inhalation in a house fire on Peoria Avenue in Cheektowaga early Monday afternoon, while family members led his 95-year-old father and a dog to safety.

Bernard Fiume was found dead at the top of the stairs of the two-story brick home at 93 Peoria Ave., after firefighters from several companies extinguished the flames and had entered the house.

Jason Stoll, first assistant chief with Doyle Volunteer Hose Company No. 2, said the cause of death was still uncertain, but a family member said the victim was not badly burned and had passed out because of smoke inhalation.