Press Release: City of Niagara Falls Fire Department Office of Fire Prevention

Starting early February of this year, there have been a rash of fires intentionally set in the mid-city and downtown areas. Occurring between 7:00pm and 1:00am, most have involved city-owned garbage and recycling totes and take place in alleys and the rear of the occupancies. So far there have been a total of 13 of these fires in February, with the heaviest concentration of fires in the mid-city area stretching from Whitney Avenue to Forest Avenue, between 18^th to 24^th Streets.

The City’s Office of Fire Prevention and its investigators are working hand-in-hand with Police investigators on these cases. These fires are a danger to the public. Investigators will not stop until the person or persons responsible for setting them are found. Police have stepped up patrols in these areas since the fires have started. The ones involving totes, which are of value, make these events Arson in the Fifth Degree, a misdemeanor. Some of the fires that have spread to garages and/or homes would be, at minimum, Arson in the Fourth Degree, a felony.

The last two fires occurred this past weekend. Each of the fires did spread to an adjacent structure, but luckily no one was hurt. Any fire has the potential to become a large fire. The last thing we want is a citizen or firefighter hurt fighting a tote fire that has spread to a structure. As a precaution we are asking all residents to position their refuse and recycling away from any structure. We are going to stress to citizens to keep their bins away from the side or rear of their house. The rear or middle of the yard would be a better location to avoid any spread of fire to a dwelling. Also, we ask that you do not keep your garbage tote in an alley or in front of residence for longer than the allotted garbage removal time.

We are also asking the public to pay attention to the rear of their homes and alleys in these areas. Any information regarding any of these past fires we are asking the public to contact the Niagara Falls Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 716-286-4553 or the Niagara Falls Fire Department Office of Fire Prevention at 286-4728 or 286-4736.