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Father may have started deadly Buffalo fire

Seven-year-old killed; two others rescued
Posted at 3:05 AM, Jan 29, 2018
and last updated 2018-01-30 12:08:57-05

Buffalo firefighters say a 7-year-old child has died in an overnight fire in the city's Lovejoy neighborhood.

7 Eyewitness News has learned the fire may have been caused by the boy's father lighting his cigarette with a blow torch.

Crews were called to 59 Benzinger Street about 2:30 a.m. Monday.  That's between William and Ludington Streets.

Heavy fire was seen rolling out the side of the house.

Buffalo firefighters quickly called for more help fighting this fire.  A third alarm was called, meaning nearly 80 crew members were on the scene.

All firefighters were evacuated from the home about 40 minutes into the fire.

Two other people were rescued, taken to Oishei Children's Hospital according to AMR dispatchers.  The response was "cold," meaning there were no lights and sirens.  

A third was rushed to the same hospital with lights and sirens.  One person was seen being rushed from the home on a stretcher, to an awaiting ambulance.

The American Red Cross is helping five children and three adults.

Firefighters set up police tape around the burning home.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.