Syracuse firefighters contain large brush fire near homes

Firefighters in Syracuse, New York, responded to a large brush fire on Wednesday evening, located near homes and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. The emergency call center received over 30 reports of the fire shortly after 6:57 p.m. Many callers had trouble identifying the fire's exact location due to heavy smoke. Fire officials discovered the fire burning in a basin area between Grand Avenue and Velasko Road. Wind shifts caused the fire to grow rapidly, making it more challenging to control. District Chief Matthew Craner noted that what started as a manageable fire quickly expanded into a much larger blaze. Firefighters worked diligently to protect nearby homes, especially those on De Palma Avenue. They were also cautious about debris being blown by the wind, which could ignite other areas. In fact, some flying debris ignited a small fire in the woods behind the zoo, but it was quickly extinguished. The fire was eventually brought under control, affecting a few acres without any injuries reported among firefighters. Air 1, a helicopter from the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office, will continue to check for any lingering hot spots in the area. Earlier that day, a red flag warning was issued for parts of Upstate New York, signaling that wind and dry conditions could lead to more fires.