WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WKBW) — Amherst Police say an investigation is underway after a multi-residential fire caused an estimated $1 million in damage and sent four people to the hospital on Wednesday.
Crews responded around 7 p.m. to the Village Square Apartments on Main Street for a heating unit on fire. Officials said crews were able to bring the fire under control and fully extinguish it within about 30 minutes.
According to police, four people were taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Several tenants were displaced and are receiving help from the Red Cross. Damage to the structure is estimated at approximately $1 million.
WATCH: Multi-residential fire in Williamsville causes $1 million in damage, sends four people to the hospital
We spoke with Nancy Rossow, who has lived at the Village Square Apartments for 13 years. She was in her second-floor unit when the fire started three apartments down from hers.
"The alarms went off, and she came down and said, 'My apartment's on fire,'" Rossow said. "The wall just the heater just blew, and then the fire was in the wall, and she flew out of there."
Many nearby streets were closed during the fire and initial investigation.
Rossow said fire officials had previously told residents that the concrete construction of the building made it one of the safest around. During the incident, residents received automated instructions to shelter in place rather than evacuate.
"So last night, when the alarms went off, whenever that does happen, there's a recording that comes on — it says, everybody stay in your rooms. Well, I would be the first to leave, you know, but now I see the fire's contained to one unit," Rossow explained.
Captain Zack Polvino of the Snyder Fire Department, one of several departments that responded to the fire, could not comment on the blaze, but discussed fire safety and how winter is typically a high-risk season for fires.
"During the wintertime and holiday season, we see a lot more fires," Polvino said. "Some of them are because of the colder weather. So a lot of fires due to items stored too close to heating elements, such as space heaters or furnaces, fireplaces."
Anyone with information is asked to call Amherst Police (716) 689-1311.
