Firefighter killed while extinguishing fire in downtown Buffalo

Buffalo, New York. A firefighter died in a burning commercial building in downtown Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday, where a fire and a sudden explosion sent flames and smoke into the street.

Video recorded by eyewitnesses shows fire teams outside the building being knocked over and shrouded in a cloud of ash, then waving their arms to regain control of the spray hoses. Fire Commissioner William Renaldo said the fireball was likely caused by backflow, which he says occurs when oxygen is “sucked into a building and then blown back out.”

The fireman was reported missing shortly after crews arrived at the building that housed the theater costume shop. Renaldo said the situation quickly deteriorated and firefighters had to evacuate to avoid the interior collapsing.

“The rest of our firefighters were able to safely evacuate, but he, unfortunately, couldn’t,” he said at an afternoon press conference.

The identity of the firefighter was not immediately released.

Rescuers initially hoped the missing firefighter would be found alive as crews spent hours trying to get to where he was thought to be trapped. The scene eventually turned grim and firefighters stopped to salute as the ambulance left the scene.

Mayor Byron Brown confirmed the death on Wednesday afternoon.

“I am deeply saddened by the news that a Buffalo Fire Department officer has died bravely fighting a fire on Main Street in downtown Buffalo today,” the statement said. “I ask everyone to pray for family and fellow firefighters.”

Brown ordered the flags on city buildings to be half-masted on city buildings.

The cause of the fire is being investigated. Renaldo said that before the fire, workers used blowtorches on the outside of the building, and that the heat could have been transferred through the brick or mortar to the inside and ignited the paper or other combustibles.

“It looks like the fire smoldered inside the building for a while before anyone knew about it,” he said.

The building is owned by former US Rep. Chris Jacobs and is under renovation. Brown said that after the fire, inspectors determined it was unstable and would be demolished immediately.