Crew rescues man in apartment fire

Buffalo, N.Y. (WIVB) - Buffalo firefighters took on two major fires in a space of four hours.

The first broke out around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday in an apartment building at Elmwood and Summer, not far from Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo.

One person had to be rescued by Buffalo firefighters.

Crews arrived to find an active fire scene.  "When we had the first companies pull up they notice heavy smoke coming from the building and immediately called for extra equipment," says John Mogavero, Division Chief, Buffalo Fire Department.

Firefighters aggressively took on the fire while checking to see if any people were inside.

"It turns out there was an individual inside the building, and we were able to remove him from the apartment and extinguish the fire," added Chief Mogavero.

"We actually went in, we rescued him, and brought him out, He's actually in great shape," said Mogavero.

Another person living on the first floor made it out, but had to be taken to the hospital.  The chief emphasized quick action was important in fighting the apartment building fire.

"Fire was on the first floor which makes it even more difficult because it has no place to go except up. ... This is a large old building, multiple apartments, multiple access points, cut up severely, the potential for disaster on this was huge," added Mogavero.

Damages are estimated at $75,000 to the building with an additional $75,000 to the materials inside. The cause is under investigation Thursday morning.

Another fire broke out around 3:30 a.m. in a vacant house on Forest near Dewitt, near Buffalo State College.  Crews at that scene called for a second alarm, and additional equipment.  More information is still pending on that fire.