Man and dog saved from burning building

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The aftermath from an overnight fire that ripped through a first floor studio in Buffalo is devastating.

Owner, Bill Zimmermann said, "You can see the fire just raged through."

Bill showed News 4 the damage after fire crews quickly put out the flames.

Fire officials said smoke moved up to the second and third floor units but the major damage was confined to the studio.

Everyone made it out of the apartment, except Zimmerman.

Chief John Mogavero explained, "There was an individual still inside the building and we were able to remove him from the apartment and extinguish the fire."

Bill exclaimed, "They were so quick to respond and react. I'll be thanking them the rest of my life."

When the fire started just before midnight, Bill said he was sound asleep.

"The smoke doesn't wake you up it brews you in to getting deeper and deeper into sleep," he stated.

He says his dog Lilly must have been terrified because she never barked.

He now calls the boarded door to his apartment a reminder of why he is still here.

"They hacked through and got in and I don't know how many more minutes there could have been before I was asphyxiated," he said.

The Red Cross assisted three people out of the six who live in the building.

Fire crews said the fire could have been much worse because of where it started, on the first floor.

"This fire just progressed rapidly. This is a large old building and multiple units and the potential for disaster was huge," Chief Mogavero explained. "We have such an immediate action response here in Buffalo for our services and their such good people. All the tenants were overjoyed by their goodwill."