Friday Fire
Vacant Spring Street Home Demolished
A fire at 813 Spring St., Jamestown, early Friday morning prompted a two-hour delay at nearby Love Elementary School.
According to an incident report from the Jamestown Fire Department, firefighters arrived on the scene at 5:05 a.m. Friday to find heavy fire on the back side of the structure from the ground to the attic of a 2.5 story abandoned house. Fire extended into the basement and the first floor. Homes on either side of 813 Spring St. were evacuated.
“We put the school on a two-hour delay out of an abundance of caution,” said Cindy Johnson, the principal of Love School. “The safety of our students is our number one concern.”
Two fire engines and a ladder truck responded, comprising 10 firefighters. Two 2.5-inch lines were used to fight the fire and keep the fire from spreading to neighboring homes while the ladder truck used an elevated master stream to knock down the fire in the attic.
Firefighters entered the home to search for anyone in the home and put out the fire. The bulk of the fire was knocked down in about 20 minutes, according to the incident report.
Fire investigators and an off-shift ladder company remained at the location into Friday afternoon. An off-shift contingent of 12 firefighters were called in.
“The cause of this fire is still under investigation,” said Crystal Surdyk, the director of development for Jamestown. “We’ve cited this same building several times over the last few years for various code violations with little or no movement on it. The owner of the building lives in California and it’s frustrating. However, because of the safety risk the remains of this building poses for neighbors. … I’ve authorized the demolition of it.”
Jamestown police officers as well as Development Department employees, ALSTAR Ambulance and National Fuel responded to the scene.