LOCKPORT, N.Y. — Lockport Fire Chief Luca Quagliano says his department doesn't have a cause yet for a fire that began just after midnight on Thursday morning at 96 Locust St. However, he tells 2 On Your Side an accelerant detection canine from the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control had also been on the scene.
Quagliano says the fire department got reports about a suspicious person in the area. The fire department will send samples to a lab and expect to have results in about a week.
Quagliano says crews were out here for four hours trying to get the blaze under control, and got it out after more than six hours. Firefighters spent the day still putting out some hot spots.
"We're looking into the basement right now and due to the construction of this building, we're looking at the balloon frame. All of the joy spaces in the walls from the basement to attic so it just traveled up that void space and traveled up those four floors essentially," Quagliano said.
He says the property is a boarding house with 13 rooms for rent, though legally, it's only allowed to have 11.
Sixteen people were displaced and have been moved to local hotels in the area for temporary housing.
2 On Your Side asked the Red Cross if they are going to help with a more permanent solution but is still waiting for a response.
Quagliano says the building is now a total loss and will need to be demolished.
No one was injured in the fire.
The house was valued at $93,000 and the contents inside were $20,000.