CITY OF JAMESTOWN EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO FIRST RESPONDERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOLLOWING HIGH-RISE APARTMENT FIRE
JAMESTOWN, NY – March 12, 2024 – The City of Jamestown extends its deepest appreciation to the individuals and organizations who responded with bravery and efficiency to the fire incident at the High-Rise Apartment Building on West 5th Street that occurred on Monday, March 11, 2024.
Facing the challenges inherent in combating a fire within a high-rise structure, the coordinated efforts of the Jamestown Fire Department, Jamestown Police Department, New York State Police, Town of Carroll Police Department, Town of Ellicott Police Department, Celoron Ambulance, Alstar Ambulance Service, Chautauqua County EMS, The Red Cross, The City of Jamestown Department of Development, and the Jamestown Housing Authority proved instrumental in ensuring the safety and well-being of the building’s residents
Mayor Kimberly Ecklund, who was on site for several hours, expressed her gratitude, stating, “Today, I stand in awe of the courageous heroes, who selflessly rescued over 90 individuals, swiftly contained the fire, and ensured the safety and well-being of both residents and fellow first responders alike.”
“In addition,” Mayor Ecklund continued, “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Western New York Red Cross for their immediate response and unwavering support over the past 20 hours, assisting those displaced by the fire. We appreciate the work and dedication in providing housing for 30 residents last evening and hope to get some residents back into their apartments tonight and in the coming days.”
The outpouring of support from our community partners has been truly remarkable, and we are immensely grateful for their dedication and unwavering efforts. Together, we stand united in our commitment to the safety and resilience of our city. Your actions embody the spirit of Jamestown and show what our community is all about, and we thank you for all that you do.
Nick Bond, CEO of the American Red Cross Western New York Region, also added “Our response and subsequent sheltering operation related to the multi-unit fire at The Senior High Rise apartment complex Monday night underscores our commitment to the Jamestown and Chautauqua County communities. Data tells us that Jamestown and Chautauqua County experience a disproportionate rate of home fires in the area, and to make the community safer, we’ve designated Jamestown as our Signature City for our 2024 Sound the Alarm campaign in western New York. What happened last night is tragic, and the Red Cross is working hard to make Sound the Alarm a success and enhance the safety of the residents of Jamestown – and the community can help. We need volunteers willing to spend a few hours on Saturday, March 23, installing free smoke alarms in homes that lack working devices, especially for those residents who are unable to do this on their own. Those interested in helping make their friends and neighbors safer can visit www.Soundthealarm.org/wny and sign up to volunteer.”
In the aftermath of this challenging event, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family of the individual who lost their life as a result of the fire.
