Acrid, black smoke fills neighborhood

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The fire on Chandler Street in north Buffalo is raising some serious environmental concerns, especially for residents right in the immediate area. Experts say don't take any chances.

Kathie Capozzi of the Clean Air Coalition of WNY siad, "This is nothing to fool around with. The people really have to leave the area. They need to evacuate."

Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield advised residents to stay indoors and shut their windows.

Pat Lancaster said, "It's a scary thing, but until I really smell something, you know, I have my front windows shut. I don't have any windows open on the other side of my house."

This neighborhood is no stranger to four-alarm fires. A blaze destroyed G&R Machinery right next door to Wednesday's inferno.

Then fire commissioner Cornelius Keane said, "Initially we had fire jump the driveway and caught onto the building, Niagara Lubricants. We made a very quick entry with hose lines, there was danger in there because there is a lot of oil, flammable lubricants, and some propane on the first floor. But I think our quick attack on that building really helped us out."

Then in 2005 a fire blamed on arson destroyed the Phargo Plant, also on Chandler. Wednesday, the thick black smoke and polluted water contained oils, propane, lubricants and different kinds of greases.

Lynn Ryan said, "The smell is actually getting worse, is actually blowing now toward me and my children."

It was hours before barriers were put around drainage holes to prevent tainted water from seeping into the sewer system. The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation released a statement saying in part the "DEC's main concern and role at the scene primarily relates to runoff from firefighting water. An environmental contractor (Optech) has also been brought to the site and is actively working to control runoff using various spill response methods and equipment specially designed to absorb and contain spills."