CORTLAND, NY (607NewsNow) – Three people have been displaced after a fire in the Crown City.
On August 21, the Cortland Fire Department responded to a two-family home on Crandall Street around 3:30 p.m. for a basement fire.
It took firefighters roughly 10 minutes to extinguish the flames while others searched the building to ensure everyone had evacuated safely. No tenants or emergency responders were injured. Crews remained on the scene for roughly two hours to track hot spots and ventilate.
The damage was limited to the basement; however, the residence was deemed temporarily unsafe due to utility damage. The three tenants are receiving emergency housing assistance from the American Red Cross.
According to Cortland Fire, the blaze was likely caused by a lithium-ion battery from an electric lawnmower. They remind the public to use only manufacturer-approved chargers and disconnect or replace batteries that show signs of swelling, extreme heat, or damage.
