Niagara Falls police detectives and fire investigators are working to determine the cause of a suspicious fire at a vacant 12th Street home.
Falls firefighters, along with police and EMS, responded to the 300 block of 12th Street around 9:45 p.m. Thursday for a structure fire. Firefighters arrived on scene to heavy smoke and flames showing from 354 12th St. and were advised that a woman could still be inside the home.
Firefighters made a push inside the house to extinguish the fire and conduct a search for the woman. Fire conditions inside the house deteriorated and all firefighters were evacuated. Firefighters continued to fight the fire from the outside until fire conditions improved.
The woman was later located safe outside the home. According to reports at the scene, police were able to locate housing for the woman and a man, who were reportedly squatting at the address.
The fire is being investigated as an arson, according to police at the scene.