One person is dead after a fire broke out on the upper floor of an apartment at 153 West Winspear Avenue in Buffalo early Tuesday morning. The fire occurred in the Buffalo University Heights neighborhood.
Buffalo fire was first alerted of the blaze just after 6:30 a.m. EST on Tuesday.
When firefighters arrived, they were able to pull one male, age 54, from the fire. He was then transported to ECMC, where he was later declared deceased after sustaining serious injuries.
"The fire had been going on for some time so he had some burns. We assume smoke inhalation. He was transported to the first floor, where crews began CPR," says Fire Commissioner William Renaldo.
He says that person was the only one in the building at that time.
Fire officials also say a dog living in the upper apartment perished in the fire.
Meanwhile, three other people living in the lower floor of the apartment, a mother and her two daughters, are being assisted by the Red Cross.
"They were not home at the time," notes Renaldo.
Investigators say the fire caused an estimated $275,000 worth of damage to the building. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
