BUFFALO, N.Y. — Dozens of Buffalo firefighters responded to a massive, 3-alarm fire early Sunday morning on the city's East Side.
Demolition efforts got underway Sunday afternoon at the site. No injuries were reported.
Crews arrived at the scene around 12:30 a.m. in the area near Walden Avenue and Rapin Place. The structure that was burning was a large warehouse where tires were being stored.
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 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.
Firefighters called for a 3-alarm plus six additional engines due to the size of the fire. Crews were still at the scene as of Sunday afternoon. There was a chance crews might still be on the scene Monday, Meldrum said.
At one point, the roof of the building collapsed.
No cause and no damage estimate have been determined at this time.