A passing motorist notified the Ithaca Fire Department and the occupants of a fire on University Ave. According to reports, a motorist driving on University Ave noticed a small fire near the porch of 132 University Ave about 7:13 A.M. and called 911 while the passenger of the vehicle alerted the occupants.
An Ithaca Police Officer in the area responded and used his dry chemical extinguisher to slow the fires progress as Ithaca Fire Department units were arriving on scene. The fire had started at the base of the front porch steps, extended to the underside of the porch and had begun to extend up the interior of the porch columns. Crews quickly began to dismantle the stairs and column of the porch to access the fire, while a second crew entered the house and searched for any remaining occupants. The fire was extinguished in about ten minutes; crews remained on scene for another 40 minutes making sure all the void spaces were clear of fire.
All the occupants were allowed back into the house by 8:15 A.M. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Ithaca Fire Department.
