Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Less than two weeks after the devastating 4 alarm fire at 745 Main Street in Buffalo claimed the life of firefighter Jason Arno, demolition of the burned out structure is now underway.
The investigation into the ferocious fire was completed Monday, with the details being turned over to the Erie County District Attorney for consideration.
"Our goal here is just a safe demolition," said Cathy Amdur, Commissioner of Permit and Inspection Services for the City of Buffalo, as she stood before the structure Tuesday as demolition crews from Buffalo-based Empire Dismantlement were beginning work.
Businesses in the area will remain open during the demolition, Amdur said, and work will be mainly conducted from the Washington side of the structure. "No through traffic will be permitted on Main Street or Washington between Tupper and Goodell," Amdur stated. "We'll try to open Main Street up sooner."
While preliminary demolition was underway Tuesday, the main work on the three story structure will begin Wednesday morning and take about a week, with an addition week needed for sorting and loading out materials and a third week for backfilling and grading the site.
Empire crews will begin at the top, taking down the center of the structure and then bring the sides in to protect adjacent structures and businesses. "Once demolition starts, it typically goes very quickly, but because the building is structurally compromised, they're going to be a little more careful," Amdur said.
Safety precautions are in place, including third party air monitoring, water hoses to control dust and plywood and tires have been placed on the adjacent structure to protect it.
