GOWANDA, NY - A fire in Gowanda destroys one building and causes water and smoke damage to surrounding structures.
Nearby resident Brad Everitt called fire crews.
"I got woken up to a big boom and there was a glowing flame so I picked up the phone and called 911," Everitt said.
The fire started in an abandon building on Jamestown Street around two a.m.
"The main building was a total lost. The surrounding building suffered facial damage," Gowanda Fire Chief Steve Raiport said.
After Everitt made the emergency call, he too had to evacuate his home because his house was so close to the fire.
Raiport said the close proximity of the buildings was the challenge in fighting this blaze. Not only did crews have to concentrate on putting water in the flames of the main building but they also had to spray the nearby structures to stop the fire from spreading.
"The biggest thing was exposures to the other building that was our primary concern to make sure the other two buildings didn't catch on fire," Raiport said.
Everitt said the fire crews were prompted and worked rapidly to get the fire under control.
"Except for some water and smoke damage to my place, everything else was taken care of," Everitt said.
The road was shut down for the morning as the restaurant was demolished.
Fire officials estimate the cost of the damage and demolition at about $80,0000. They continue to the arson.
