Suspicious fire draws crews to Lovejoy

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A suspicious fire drew firefighters to Buffalo's east side overnight.

Officials says there is about $20,000 in damages to the home.

Firefighters believe the fire could have been intentionally set.

A good neighbor called Buffalo Fire officials shortly before 1 a.m. Monday, to let them know the back of a house was on fire.

Officials are calling it suspicious and believe it could have been intentionally set.

"Our arson investigators were called immediately for this and they are going to be taking a look at it ," said Division Chief John Mogavero, Buffalo Fire Department.

The two-story house is located on Benzinger Street in Buffalo's Lovejoy district.

"We knew this was a vacant building from the neighbors, but were still trying to do a search just in case there was somebody in it possibly somebody who started the fire could be in it. We always do a primary search," said Mogavero. "The gas meter was removed I noticed, I'm assuming the electrical was already shut off to it to."

No one was found inside the home.

Meantime throughout their search, crews faced challenges.

"There were no floors in certain parts of the first floor. We were running into problems with the building itself, there were no floors in certain in parts of the first floor so it was right down to the basement area it was right down to the sub-level area so we had dangerous conditions for firefighters," Mogavero explained.

Dispite this, firefighters were able to knock down the flames quickly.

As a result, houses close to the fire were not damaged.

The fire may have started inside the back edition of the home, officials say.

Mogavero said, "It wasn't throughout the entire structure, which made it a little bit harder to even handle."

Arson investigators are talking to neighbors to see if they know of any suspicious activity that may have sparked the fire.

Fortunately no one was injured.

Officials were on scene for about an hour and a half Monday morning, however right now arson investigators are still working trying to find out what sparked the fire.

Crews responded to two other fires Monday morning:

Person may be trapped in structure fire

Fire crews at home on Military Road