25 firefighters extinguish house fire in Cortland

The house fire at a Rickard Street residence in the city of Cortland during the late-evening hours of Thursday. (Photo provided by the City of Cortland Fire Department)

About 25 firefighters were on scene of a fire at a two-family residence late Thursday evening in the city of Cortland, according to a release.

The release from the City of Cortland Fire Department stated that units responded just before 11 p.m. to a report of a fire on a back balcony of a residence at 10 ½ Rickard Street in Cortland.

The cause of the fire was a cooking grill that caught fire on the second-floor balcony of the Rickard Street residence, the release noted.

Units confirmed on scene that the fire was quickly going up into the attic of the house. Firefighters extinguished the fire from the outside, while others attempted to enter the attic in search of extensions from the fire.

“Access to the attic area was not easily located which made suppression activities difficult,” city fire chief Wayne Friedman said via the release.

Once firefighters reached the access point, the fire was quickly put out and under control in 40 minutes. 

No injuries were reported, as crews confirmed a “search and verified all occupants” were safely out of the residence, the report stated. One firefighter, however, suffered a shoulder injury, but was treated and released at the hospital.

The house itself could not be reoccupied due to significant smoke and water damage. The individuals living in the house were assisted by the American Red Cross.

The City Fire Department was assisted by the Homer and Cortlandville Fire Departments, the Cortland Police Department, TLC Ambulance, National Grid and NYSEG. 

Units were on scene until 2:30 Friday morning.