Syracuse, N.Y. — A fire at Destiny USA Tuesday night forced the complete evacuation of Syracuse’s mega mall.
Syracuse firefighters, police and ambulance crews responded to the report of a fire at the mall shortly after 6:35 p.m., Syracuse Fire Deputy Chief John Kane said at the scene.
Fire crews arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the roof of the mall above the Cheesecake Factory restaurant, Kane said. It took firefighters a few minutes to gain access to the roof, he said.
Firefighters used a ladder truck to get access to the mall roof above restaurant. Firefighters could be seen working on the roof of the mall and saws could be heard from the roof area.
A large section of the roof was on fire, Kane said. There was no fire damage inside the mall, but a haze could be seen in a few sections of the structure, he said.
About 50 firefighters were called to the scene and it took about 30 minutes to extinguish the flames, Kane said.
An audible alarm was activated when fire crews arrived, Kane said. The alarm prompted some to leave, but not everyone, he said.
The mall was completely evacuated, and power was shut off for the section of the mall near the fire, Kane said. The mall is expected to reopen Tuesday night, but the exact timing is up to mall management, Kane said.
At least seven fire trucks were on the scene. Police were blocking roads near the mall. Many customers initially couldn’t leave the area because their vehicles were blocked.
A road off of Exit 22 of Interstate 81 South was closed as of 7:40 p.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.
Staff writer James McClendon covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? Reach him at 914-204-2815 or [email protected].
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