Syracuse, N.Y. — The American Red Cross is helping 10 people following a double fatal fire Monday morning.
Two women died and two other people are in the hospital following a fire Monday morning at two neighboring houses on Olive Street in Syracuse, Syracuse Fire Chief Michael Monds has said.
When firefighters arrived at 8:29 a.m., just minutes after the first 911 call, the 2½-story house at 119 Olive St. was in flames from basement to attic, Monds said. The fire also had spread to a second house at 119½ Olive St.
The two women who died were among seven people who lived in a first-floor apartment at 119 Olive St., Monds said. Two other people who also lived on the first floor were removed by firefighters and are being treated in the hospital. Their conditions were not immediately known.
Three people who lived on the second floor at 119 Olive were not home when the fire started and two residents of 119½ Olive St., a mother and son, got out of their house safely, the fire chief said.
Volunteers from the Central and Northern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross said they “provided immediate emergency aid” to 10 people after the multi-family, fatal fire Monday on Olive Street.
The Red Cross is providing financial assistance to eight adults and two 13-year-olds displaced by the fire for necessities such as shelter, food and clothing.
Volunteers also offered health services and comfort kits containing personal care items, according to the Red Cross.
“In the coming days, Red Cross staff and volunteers will remain available to help those affected by the fire as they navigate the road to recovery,” a news release said.
The Red Cross says it relies on the “generosity of local donors to help families prepare, respond and recover from disasters in Central and northern New York.” To help, the Red Cross asks the public to visit redcross.org or call (800) RED-CROSS to donate to Disaster Relief. Volunteers also are needed to respond to house fires like the one on Olive Street. Volunteer opportunities are available by visiting redcross.org/volunteer.
Staff writers Rylee Kirk and Tim Knauss contributed to this report.
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