Fire crews battle late night "inferno"

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Buffalo firefighters describe a fiery scene that erupted just before midnight along Jefferson Street as an “inferno.”

Crews were battling fierce flames for nearly two hours.  The fire took so long to extinguish due to a second-floor that was full of rubber tires.

"The place was stuffed with combustibles like that. It's very difficult, it was burning out of control for quite a while," said Buffalo Fire Department Division Chief Mike Biasillo.

Authorities report that people were working in the building at the time of the fire but there are no reports of any injuries.

The cause of the first is not yet known. Damage is estimated at $140,000.