Massive Fire Levels Buildings

May 3, 2005:

Early Tuesday morning May 3, 2005 Blasdell firefighters got awaken by a four alarm fire that destroyed two buildings and threatened several others.

At 1:07 am, Hamburg Fire Control was notified of a large fire in a garage at the rear of 100 Lake Ave. in the village of Blasdell.

Minutes later, Village of Blasdell Police notified dispatch that they had a very large working fire in a garage and it was starting to extend to the house.

Police started to evacuate people from nearby houses in case the fire spread.

While first lines were going out into operation, the fire extended to the house at the front of the property. The decision was made by command that due to pre-existing knowledge of the building, this would be a defensive fire. The building was a large, three-story wooden frame home built in the early 1900’s and consisted of several renovations over the years.

Along with the initial dispatch to Blasdell, an automatic second alarm was struck bringing Big Tree Engine 1 and 2, Newton Abbott Quint 6, Woodlawn Ladder 6, Orchard Park FAST and Big Tree’s Ambulance to the scene.

Shortly into the incident, a third alarm was requested bringing Armor Engine 2, Lake Shore Engine 1, Scranton Truck 6, Scranton Engine 1, and Hamburg Engine 1 to the scene.

As several master streams were put into operation Woodlawn Ladder 6 setup their ladder pipe on the A-side of the building while Scranton Truck 6 ladder pipe was put into operation on the Delta-side. Crews did an amazing job controlling the blaze and saving the house located just a few feet next to the building.

About one hour into the incident, the building succumbed to the flames and collapsed upon itself. A backhoe was then brought in to begin pulling apart the building to search and extinguish any deep seated fire.

Crews remained on location into the late morning performing overhaul.

Firefighters used a large amount of water, leaving a "mini lake" on the street when the final lines were shutdown.

Blasdell was assisted on scene by: Big Tree, Hamburg, Lake Shore, Newton Abbott, Scranton and Woodlawn Fire Companies, The Hamburg Police, Erie County Sheriffs Fire Investigation Unit, Rural Metro Medical Services and the Blasdell Department of Public Works.

.....Story by Branden Watson

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