At 5:18 p.m. on Monday, December 17, the Cayuga Heights Fire Department was dispatched to a residence on Christopher Circle in the Town of Ithaca after a neighbor reported flames coming from the roof. The arriving units made entry through the front and rear of the structure to knock down the fire.
The fire was brought under control in 15 minutes, after which the sole occupant of the residence was found deceased inside. The New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control is investigating the cause of the fire, which started in the kitchen. Firefighters remained on scene until about 11 p.m.
Mutual aid was provided by Lansing Fire Department and Ithaca Fire Department, while Bangs Ambulance stood by at the scene along with the Cayuga Heights Police and New York State Police.
While crews were still operating at Christopher Circle, a chimney fire was reported at a residence on Hanshaw Road in the Village of Cayuga Heights. Lansing Fire Department was clearing the scene at the time and responded along with an engine from Cayuga Heights to extinguish that fire.