Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It took Buffalo firefighters about 4 hours to bring a 4-alarm fire at Paul William Beltz PC on Church Street near Franklin under control Thursday. The fire started around 12:17 pm.
Church Street was quickly closed to traffic from Delaware Avenue to Pearl Street and officials pleaded with the public to avoid the area.
Fire officials say the fire may have started on the second floor, then spread to the third floor. 100 firefighters were on duty working to put the fire out. The fire was declared under control as of 4:00 p.m., and everyone inside was evacuated safely.
One Buffalo firefighter was transported to the hospital for dehydration. There were no reported civilian injuries.
The building at 36 Church Street did not have sprinklers, they were not required in 1965, when it was built.
Late Thursday, city officials said damage estimates resulting from the fire would top $6 million.
Damage Overview:
• Original Fire Building – 36 Church Street:
Estimated $3 million in structural damage and $1.6 million to contents.
• 65 Franklin Street (Verizon Building):
Sustained approximately $25,000 in smoke and water damage.
• Exposure 2 – 140 Pearl Street (Prudential Building):
Estimated $750,000 in structural damage and $150,000 to contents.
• Exposure 3 – 130-132 Pearl Street:
Estimated $500,000 in structural damage.
Total Estimated Damages: $6,025,000.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz closed the Rath Building, Old County Hall, Family Court, 50 Delaware, and the Lincoln Building because of the fire. County employees were released from work early.
Officials are confident that the historic Guaranty and Verizon buildings on either side of the Paul William Beltz building are safe.
Mayor Chris Scanlon reacted to the fire late Thursday. "I want to commend and thank the dedicated men and women of The Buffalo Fire Department for their swift and courageous response to this afternoon’s four-alarm fire," the Mayor said in a written statement.
