Unconfirmed report of delayed alarm may have allowed greater fire damage

An overnight fire caused major damage to the building at 102— 104 West State
Street. The structure is a 3-story brick building at the intersection of Cayuga and State
Streets, on the west end of the Ithaca Commons. The first floor houses the Handwork
Cooperative Artists Gallery, floors 2 and 3 house the Ithaca Academy of.Dance. The Tompkins County 911 Center transmitted the first alarm at 11:04pm.
Ithaca engine 1, Acting Lieutenant Thomas Basher officer in charge, arrived on scene at 23:06 hours. There was no smoke or fire showing. The alarm panel indicated an alarm on the top floor, floor 3. An odor of smoke was discovered on floor two by the initial response crew of seven (7) firefighters under the command of Guy J. Van iBenschoten, Assistant Fire Chief. An additional engine was requested. flasher and Fitefighter Jared Gebel reached floor 3 via the exterior fire escape on the North Cayuga Street side. The door was cool to the touch. When entry was made, heavy black smoke poured from the doorway.

Van Benschoten transmitted a 20d alarm, bringing all on duty Ithaca firefighters to the scene, for a total of 13 firefighters, off duty firefighter recall, and Mutual Aid from Cayuga Heights, Lansing, and Newfield Fire Departments to backfill the empty Ithaca fire stations.

Van Benschoten special called Ithaca’s reserve ladder to the scene, once staffed by recalled personnel, as the fire was threatening to extend to the Ithaca Agency building, contiguous to the fire building on the west side.

Initial operations were defensive, meaning firefighters attacked the fire from outside the building. The fire was free burning, heavy smoke fire. There were not enough Ithaca firefighters on scene initially so that two firefighters could be assigned to the OSHA mandated 2 OUT TEAM. The OSHA standards require that twø firefighters be assigned to stand by for immediate firefighter rescue, if needed, before an interior crew of 2 is authorized to enter the building, The regulation is commonly referred to as 2
IN/2 OUT
Ithaca firefighters pulled the fire alarm box for the Ithaca Agency building, to evacuate the building. Ithaca Police assisted in the evacuation. TCAT assisted by bringing a transit bus to the scene as an evacuee collection point for the occupants displaced from the Ithaca Agency Building. Deputy Fire Chief J. Thomas thorrnan arrived on scene, Command was transferred to Chief Dorman. Van Benschoten was assigned to Operations Section Chief. Ithaca Mayor Carolyn Peterson and Alderperson .J. R. Clairborne, 2l Ward, arrived on scene to view first hand the firefighting operations.

The fire appeared to have gained access to the cockloft of the building, that space above the floor 3 ceiling and below the roof. Interior crews used tools to pull down the ceilings, gain access to the hidden fire above their heads.
Both ladders operated on the State Street side of the building. The fire had spread to the cornice, that ornamental wood and tin building crown. Fireghters pulled down sections of the cornice, exposing the fire lurking behind it and extinguishcd the fire.
Clinton Hall, the building to the rear, fronting on Cayuga Street, separated by an alley from the fire building, was checked for possible fire spread. There was no fire, but smoke had entered the building on the top floor. The top floor housed the REP Recording studio and Reppert Chiropractic Office. Ithaca firefighters used fans at the rear entrance of the building to pressurize it and force the smoke from the building, a tactic called Positive Pressure Ventilation.
Bangs Ambulance stood by at the scene. One firefighter reported an injury
caused by a 5” hose line unkinikng. He refused medical attention.
Ithaca DPW assisted by transporting barricades to the scene. Ithaca DPW also assisted by designing, engineering and maintaining an cxcellent water system for public fire protection. NYSEG responded to the scene. The 100 blocks of Northand South Cayuga Street were closed down as well as the 100 block of West State Street.
Ithaca fire units remain on the scene at this time, checking for and extinguishing hot spots.
North and South Cayuga Streets are now reopened to traffic. The 1100 block of West State is open to eastbound traffic.

A Cooperative of the Artists of the Handwork Gallery owns the building. The artist’s crafts and floor one escaped major fire, water, or fire control damage. The 2 floor suffered moderate water damage. Floor 3 and the roof assembly suffered major fire damage. An early estimate of fie damage is in excess of $100,000.

Daylight will bring Ithaca Fire Investigators to the scene. The building fire alarm is a local fire alarm only, not connected to the fire department or central alarm company. Ithaca Police are checking out a report that persons heard the alarm sounding in excess of 39 minutes before the 1 call was made to Tompkins 911.