Flames destroy former toy store

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Flames erupted at the former Golebiewski's Toy Store on Genesee Street in Buffalo around 12:30 a.m. There is a team effort to get the fire scene under control, on Buffalo’s east side. Fire crews remain on the scene Tuesday afternoon, trying to put out hotspots. City crews were on the scene earlier salting the streets, and sewer workers were also working at the scene.

The very large building has been vacant since the 1980's.  Despite it's size, firefighters were well prepared for the fire due to pre-planning.  They knew the potentially dangerous conditions of the structural integrity of the building and fought the fire accordingly. 

Buffalo Fire Department Division Chief Don McFeely said, “Genesee Street years ago, I mean, was a vibrant street.” However, over the years the store closed and remained vacant. The two-story building was so unstable firefighters had to fight the blaze defensively from outside.

Buffalo Fire Department Division Chief John Mogavero said, “We had marked this building previously, it has entered into our dispatch as a vacant, dangerous building as we've done with multiple buildings throughout the city. The companies were very familiar with this one, it's a large structure and we try and target these ones where it's a hazard not only to the firefighters but the community as well.”

Fire crews were able to get to the scene very quickly and went right into defensive efforts.  Not long after, a large section of the former manufacturing building came down, but no one was hurt.

PHOTOS: See incredible photos of the remains from the fire in this photo gallery

Investigators determined the fire started on the ground level of the building, but have not figured out the cause of the flames. Crews hope to demolish the building by Tuesday or Wednesday, because it is not safe for anyone to go in it or be near it.