Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The investigation into the fatal fire at 745 Main Street back on March 1 in Downtown Buffalo has come to an end.
In a release from a City of Buffalo spokesperson on Monday, Buffalo Fire Investigators and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have completed their on-site investigation of the fire that killed Buffalo Firefighter Jason Arno.
“I want to thank all of the fire investigators, led by Buffalo Fire and the ATF, for their thorough and careful work over the last two weeks, that will hopefully provide a measure of closure to the community,” said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown in a statement on Monday.
Damage from the fire has been estimated at $2.6 million dollars.
The findings of the investigation will now be turned over to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office for further review. They will determine whether or not any criminal conduct is going to result from the fire.
"There are three levels of conduct: There is intentional, there's reckless, and there's negligent," said Erie County District Attorney John Flynn this past Friday. "All three areas are being looked at. I'd be surprised if we find anything intentional, at this point, but again, it's not ruled out yet though. But whether or not there was reckless conduct or whether or not there was negligent conduct is being investigated, and will be thoroughly investigated by this office, along with my partners in law enforcement, the ATF and the fire department."
Now with the investigation at 745 Main Street being completed, the site will be turned over to the City of Buffalo’s Department of Permit and Inspection Services (DPIS) with an emergency demolition to the building scheduled to begin as early as Tuesday. According to DPIS, the demolition, as well as the removal of the foundations and debris, is expected to take, at least, two weeks with backfill and grading work to follow.
As the emergency demolition is set to begin, road closures will be in place.
City officials say Main Street between Tupper Street and Goodell Street, is expected to be closed to traffic for the next week or so until the demo of the structure is complete.
Washington Street between Tupper and Goodell remains closed until further notice.
Businesses in the area are open with roads outside of the demolition site accessible to local traffic.