Stark Street fire victim identified

TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) -  

City of Tonawanda Police have identified the woman who died in a fire on Stark Street New Year’s Day. Officials say 23-year-old Catherine Butera was not able to escape.

Firefighters worked all morning New Year’s Day putting out hotspots at a home. They found the back of the home fully engulfed in flames, and a 28-year-old man standing out front.

Chief Charles Stuart of the City of Tonawanda Fire Dept. reports, "They had one occupant standing outside saying that there was still somebody trapped inside in the rear."

Fire Chief Stuart says the rescue captain immediately rushed into the burning home. "He got about 20 feet and reported unbearable conditions and had to back out. He made it almost to the bedroom where the victim was located but due to the heat and fire he had to back out."

Stuart says the fire spread so quickly it wasn't safe for firefighters to continue the search for the 23 year old woman.
Chief Stuart continues, "It appears that it started in the rear of the structure and then the roof started to fail fairly quickly into the operation and we converted to a defensive operation for safety at that point."

As firefighters battled the flames, they also battled the elements - bitter cold temperatures and a skeleton crew.

"We had to wait a little bit for the rest of the off-duty and volunteer firefighters to show up. We're on the far east end of town, dead end street. So it took a minute or so longer than what's typical to get a crew down here to pull second and third lines, which is what was needed" said Stuart.