BUFFALO, N.Y. — An update has been provided on the 3-alarm fire that happened early Sunday morning on the city's East Side.
Buffalo Fire Department Officials say that the fire that started inside a warehouse at 64 Rapin Place has an estimated $1.8M in damage. Nearby residents also experienced an estimated $20,500 in damage as well.
The cause is still unknow, and under investigation.
A fire was spotted in the rear of the building, where firefighters lacked access due to railroad tracks. The fire quickly spread throughout the building that is largely used to store tires, according to Tom Meldrum, Buffalo Division Fire Chief, who spoke with 2 On Your Side on Sunday afternoon.
Meldrum said firefighters battled the blaze from outside, adding that "six or eight houses" along the street were evacuated and that 14 people were removed.
"There was a lot of embers flying all over the neighborhood," Meldrum said. "The house behind us, the siding melted on it, and we were concerned that those structures were going to start."
Massive flames and thick black smoke could be seen from blocks away as the fire burned early on Sunday. A 2 On Your Side photojournalist at the scene saw people being evacuated from their nearby homes because the smoke was blowing towards them. He also reported hearing multiple small explosions at the scene.