A tragic incident occurred on Wednesday when a young firefighter died in a fire that erupted inside a Buffalo costume shop.
The firefighter, whose identity is yet to be disclosed, was about 30 feet inside the burning DC Theatricks shop at 10 a.m. when a backdraft caused a partial collapse, trapping him inside.
Other firefighters had to leave him behind when an evacuation was called just before the intense backdraft occurred, blasting through the building.
Video footage captured the fireball rupturing through the storefront and across the sidewalk just as firefighters escaped.
The explosion knocked several firefighters to the ground, sending debris flying onto the street. The department took hours to reach where the fireman was killed and retrieve his body from the severely unstable structure.
Officials believe the fire was sparked by contractors who were using torches to work on the outside of the brick-and-mortar building.
Investigators suggest the blaze was sparked when the torch flames escaped through holes in the motor and set fire to a considerable pile of paper products and other fuel inside the building on the opposite side of the wall.
It is possible that the fire was smouldering for some time before it rapidly grew into the deadly four-alarm inferno.
The building was unstable, and city officials plan to demolish it as soon as possible. Mayor Byron Brown has ordered flags across the city to be lowered to half-mast in honour of the fallen smoke eater.
The identity of the firefighter is being withheld as the family is notified.
The department’s chaplain described him as a “young man” with a wife and child, joining a long line of firefighters who have also paid the ultimate sacrifice over the years in service to the community.
»Young firefighter dies in fire outbreak inside a Buffalo costume shop«
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