SYRACUSE — A fast-moving response by Syracuse firefighters helped keep damage limited during a house fire Wednesday night on First North Street, though two residents were temporarily displaced while utilities were shut off as a precaution, the Syracuse Fire Department said.
Firefighters were dispatched at 8:39 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, to a reported structure fire at 711 First North St. Crews arriving on scene did not see flames from outside the two-story home, but once inside they found smoke on the first floor and confirmed an active fire.
The department reported a “Signal 99” was transmitted — a term used to indicate a confirmed working fire and to request additional resources.
Firefighters began opening up walls near where the smoke was coming from and discovered more smoke pushing from an exterior wall nearby. By accessing the hidden space, crews were able to locate the fire and extinguish it within about 10 minutes, officials said. While suppression was underway, other firefighters searched the home to ensure no one was trapped. Those searches confirmed there were no victims.
The home is a single-family residence. Two occupants were home at the time but got out safely before firefighters arrived, the department said.
Because the fire was found and put out quickly, damage to the home was described as limited. However, utilities were disconnected as a safety measure, which temporarily displaced the occupants. They were assisted by family members, according to the fire department.
Fire investigators determined the fire started inside a wall cavity — the open space inside a wall — near the first-floor kitchen. The cause remains under investigation.
No injuries were reported to civilians or firefighters. Crews remained on scene for about an hour for cleanup and to ensure the fire was fully out, a process firefighters call “overhaul,” which involves checking for hidden hot spots that could rekindle.
