City of Syracuse, NY

02/28/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/28/2026 18:54

City of Syracuse Response to Events at Nob Hill on February 28

City of Syracuse Response to Events at Nob Hill on February 28

Published on February 28, 2026

An early-morning fire at Nob Hill Apartments prompted a multi-department response, displacing residents and triggering an unfit declaration of building #3. The following information has been provided by City departments involved in the response.
Syracuse Fire Department

At 4:10 a.m., Syracuse Firefighters responded to a 911 call at 101 Lafayette Rd, Nob Hill Apartments Building 3. Upon arrival, crews investigated and located smoke and fire coming from the rear of the 5½-story apartment building. Additional resources were called to the scene.

First-arriving crews advanced hose lines and initiated searches for occupants. Extreme heat caused windows to fail, and flames extended from the basement-level apartment. High wind conditions intensified the fire, pushing heat and smoke into hallways and stairwells and making interior access difficult. Crews deployed ground ladders to rescue occupants who were unable to evacuate through interior corridors.

Due to deteriorating fire conditions, interior crews were ordered to temporarily withdraw. Once conditions improved, search operations in the apartments resumed. The fire was brought under control in roughly one hour and declared fully extinguished after two hours on scene. The fire was largely contained to the apartment of origin, with minor extension into the second- and third-floor apartments directly above.

A deceased individual was discovered in the apartment where the fire originated. The Syracuse Police Department was immediately notified Fire Department personnel, in coordination with the Syracuse Police Department and building management, conducted a systematic evacuation of the building and assisted residents in retrieving essential personal belongings.

The American Red Cross is assisting displaced residents in coordination with building management. The Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro) also responded, dispatching a bus to provide temporary shelter for affected residents during the incident. Two occupants were transported to the hospital with non-critical injuries. Their conditions are unknown at this time. There were no injuries to Fire Department personnel.

Over 70 firefighters responded to the incident, including command and support staff. Syracuse Police, American Medical Response, National Grid, Centro and the Red Cross also responded to the scene. The Syracuse Fire Department thanks our partners at the 911 Center, SPD, AMR, National Grid, Centro and the Red Cross for their continued support.

Syracuse Police Department
At approximately 2:45 p.m., while members of the Syracuse Police Department were assisting with the structure fire, they were notified by apartment management of an unresponsive male located in a locked first-floor bathroom away from the area where the fire was contained. An SPD officer responded and found the male unconscious and not breathing. Emergency Medical Responders pronounced him deceased at the scene. Members of the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office responded and will determine the official cause and manner of death. The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Division of Code Enforcement
Due to the extensive smoke and water damage, along with disconnected utilities and the loss of certain security and life safety systems, Code Enforcement and Fire Prevention rendered the building unfit for occupancy. The unfit declaration will remain in place until such time as all necessary repairs have been satisfactorily completed and pass inspections to ensure the safety and security of the residents.
Statement from Mayor Owens
"I am both saddened and outraged at the loss of life at Nob Hill apartments. The long legacy of quality housing provided by Nob Hill to residents in our community has been destroyed by its current ownership. My office will continue to use every legal avenue available to hold the property owner and other interested parties accountable for the condition of these properties."

For Media Inquiries

For media inquiries, members of the press should contact the Office of Communications by emailing [email protected].

City of Syracuse, NY published this content on February 28, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 01, 2026 at 00:54 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]