BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo firefighters rescued two children while responding to a house fire Wednesday evening.
Division Chief Daniel Bossi of the Buffalo Fire Department told 2 On Your Side that the fire on the 200 block of Hazelwood Avenue started around 5 p.m. Wednesday on the first floor, then quickly spread.
Buffalo Fire crews were able to get inside the home northeast of Bailey and East Delavan avenues, and when they did, they made a shocking discovery.
"As soon as our companies got on location, we had a heavy fire on the first floor, smoke, pushing through all the other floors, second, third flood," Bossi told 2 On Your Side at the scene. "As our companies were ready to make entry, they heard a scream on the other side of the door, and as they forced the door to get inside, they had a child that actually ran through the fire room to them. So we had a child that was removed from the building by our company, but he was running and they met almost at the front door at the same time."
One of the children rescued, an 8-year-old boy, was taken to Oishei Children’s Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. His condition is not considered to be life-threatening, according to a Buffalo Fire Department spokesperson.
One firefighter was also taken to Erie County Medical Center to be treated for a shoulder injury.
2 On Your Side is also learning tonight that there is a history of code violations in the rental home. City data shows the home was flagged in March of 2020 for not having smoke or carbon monoxide detectors.
Jorge Herrera was inside at the time of the fire and was able to safely get the rest of his family of 18 out of the home, besides the 8-year-old boy that Buffalo Fire rescued.
Hererra said he and his family had been living in the home for six months and first came to the area 18 months ago after seeking asylum from Venezuela.
He told 2 On Your Side on Wednesday through his friend, who translated, that the family had nowhere to go and planned to sleep in their cars that night.
The Red Cross is assisting the five adults and 13 children who have been displaced by the fire, which caused an estimated $175,000 in property damage and $100,000 to the contents.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.