Anne Hayes
syracuse.com
(MCT)
Syracuse, N.Y. — A two-family home near Syracuse’s Westcott neighborhood was destroyed by a fire late Monday night.
Around 11:19 p.m., firefighters responded to reports of a house fire at 637 Westmoreland Ave. near Levy Middle School, according to a news release from the Syracuse Fire Department.
When crews arrived they saw heavy smoke and active flames pouring from the 3 1/2-story, wood-framed building, fire officials said.
The fire took approximately 30 minutes to get under control, they said. Heavy clutter inside the home made it difficult to fight the fire from inside, fire officials said.
Although the fire was out within half an hour, crews remained on scene for several hours to perform an extensive overhaul and clear some smoke from the building.
Only one of the five residents was inside when the fire broke out, fire officials said. They were able to evacuate before firefighters arrived.
The home is currently uninhabitable and the American Red Cross is providing assistance to the five displaced residents.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, they said.
Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her atahayes@syracuse.com.
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