Crews were called out to the scene on Shirley Avenue between Comstock Avenue and Bailey Avenue around 1:30 Friday morning.
A 4 year-old girl and a 26 year-old woman died in the fire. An 8 year-old boy, who suffered burns to 80% of his body, died overnight Saturday at Children's Hospital. Two other people were treated for smoke inhalation at ECMC.
Authorities say the fire has been ruled as accidental and that it started in the kitchen.
According to Buffalo Fire Commissioner William Renaldo, the woman who perished was the aunt of the children who lived in the house.
The flames caused about $150,000 in damage and according to fire officials the home is considered a total loss.
Fire officials say their crews arrived within minutes of the call, but by then the house was fully involved.
"When that fire was going it was all a rage and it was the most devastating thing thing I’ve ever seen," said Craig Kulinski who lives down the street from where the fire occurred.
Hours later, Kulinski was still shaken, especially after having watched the children being brought out of the house where paramedics began treating them.
"I knew it was not going to be a good day for a multitude of people," said Kulinksi. "I mean... the holidays are for people, and this is obviously one of the most devastating times to have people go through their holiday traditions in the most adverse conditions."
The fire, which is not considered to have been suspicious in origin, is believed to have started on the first floor of the single family home.
The victims may have been trapped on the second floor of the house, as those who were able to escape made their exit from a second floor window.
"This is a Nightmare"
On Friday afternoon Robert Jones, who escaped the fire with minor injuries, spoke of the devastation of his having lost his daughter and his sister in the fire and his efforts to try and save them.
WATCH FULL INTERVIEW: Father who lost child in fire: 'This is a nightmare'
"This is nightmare," Jones told WGRZ-TV. "I don't know what to say....I don't know what to do."
Jones says he was a awakened by a smoke alarm and quickly tried to gather his family to exit the house..
The fire is believed to have started on the first floor, limiting the means of escape for those who'd been sleeping upstairs.
Jones says all five family members were alert as they made their way to an upstairs bedroom, where a window would allow them to climb out onto a porch roof.
"But by the time we got into the room, the lights went out and so we couldn't see," he said.
Jones says he was able to climb out and saw a passerby who had stopped his car and pulled a garbage can into the yard, urging him to jump down on it. He recalled shouting for the others to follow.
"My son was was right behind us and I yelled back to him to follow my voice," Jones said.
Jones went first, only to turn to see no one was following...so he tried to re-enter the home from the ground level.
"I ran to the side door and tried to open it but it was just engulfed in flames everywhere," he said.
According to Jones, his sister Briana Ross, 26, died at the scene.
His daughter Cianna Jones, 4, died at ECMC.
His 8 year old step son, G'Shawn McGee, was taken to Children's Hospital after suffering burns to 80 percent of his body and later died.
The Children's mother, Shawniqua Johnson, whom Jones identified as his fiance, remained hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
"My baby girl is gone... my sister is gone...my son is in the hospital fighting for his life, and my girl is in the hospital pretty much fighting for her life," he said Friday afternoon.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown offered his condolences to the family via Twitter on Saturday.
You Can Help
A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help the family by the LMC Ministries, and Oishei Healthy Kids Health Home.