BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Buffalo Fire Department battled a large two-alarm fire that damaged three homes Monday morning in South Buffalo. Nine people are left homeless. Two cats were killed.
The fire occurred on Hopkins Street near South Park Avenue before 10 a.m.
"We don't have anything. Our house is gone. We don't have anywhere to go," said Detrice Myles, a fire victim.
Myles and her three-year old son lost all of their belongings in the fire, including Christmas presents and pets.
Large house fire at Hopkins and South Park. Buffalo smoke eaters have evacuated the house for their own safety and are now fighting the flames from the outside of the structure. @WKBW pic.twitter.com/bEQnoRouxL
— WKBW Photog -- "BNL" (@PhotogWKBW) December 23, 2019
The fire began in one home and spread to a second.
The two homes have extensive damage and a third home has exposure damage. The Fire Chief at the scene estimated the damage to both houses was about $120,000. He said the other homes around the burned houses affected are facing $5,000 in repairs.
The roof has collapsed on both homes with extensive damage and they are scheduled for emergency demolition.
Roof collapses have occurred on both majorly-damaged houses. Firefighters appear to have kept damage to the third house minimal. Crews still working. @wkbw pic.twitter.com/WMAYJ2FNQl
— WKBW Photog -- "BNL" (@PhotogWKBW) December 23, 2019
"Just watch the whole house burn. That's all we could do," said Daniel Castner, another fire victim, "The only thing that really matters is that everybody is okay because everything else can be replaced.
The Castner family was allowed back inside to grab what was left of their belongings, just hours before their home of 7 years was torn down.
One of the families is gathering as much as they can before their home of 7 years on Hopkins Ave is demolished after a fire left it structurally unsound. @WKBW pic.twitter.com/KHkgYERGZy
— Olivia Proia (@OliviaProia) December 23, 2019
Firefighters that evacuated the structure on Hopkins appear to be extremely overcome with exhaustion. They are being looked at by paramedics, but are all moving and talking. No official word on any injuries yet. @PhotogWKBW pic.twitter.com/LiPXgF3FgV
— WKBW Photog -- "BNL" (@PhotogWKBW) December 23, 2019
The Red Cross is helping all nine people affected by this fire. The organization does not take donations for specific families so that they can provide the same level of need-based service to all families. You can help the Red Cross help all families by contacting redcross.org, 1-800-REDCROSS or by texting REDCROSS to 90999.
There is also a GoFundMe for the Castner family and a separate fundraiser for the Myles family.
