VIDEO: Sixteen people are without a home and 10 people are in the hospital after two fires broke out Tuesday afternoon in Rochester. Eight of those injured are firefighters. The Rochester Fire Department says three of their firefighters sustained 1st and 2nd degree burns battling a four-alarm fire at a townhome on Dewey Avenue just after noon. “Right now, I have three firefighter injuries and two civilian injuries,” said Chief Stefano Napolitano at the scene on Dewey Ave. “The firefighter injuries appear to be burns in nature. The civilian injuries happen to be more atmospheric conditions,” he said, referring to the heat and humidity. Less than 30 minutes after getting the fire under control on Dewey Ave., RFD responded to a call on West Ave. at the Flower City Art Noire Collective, a summer art camp. On top of the damage, five other firefighters were taken to the hospital for minor injuries including burns, heat stress and two falls.
