For the second time this week, Niagara Falls firefighters battled a large fire at a vacant property in the city.
Around 6:10 p.m. Wednesday, emergency crews responded to 2222 Falls St. for report of a structure fire. On arrival, heavy smoke could be observed coming from the structure. Firefighters initially made entry into the abandoned structure to find and extinguish the fire. Crews located fire on the first floor and knocked it down. Moments later, it was reported that the fire was through the roof and all firefighters were ordered out of the building.
Fire crews set up defensive operations, utilizing two aerial master streams from the both ladder trucks and several hand-lines to “surround and drown” the burning building. The fire eventually torn through the roof, causing a significant portion to collapse.
By 7:30 p.m., the fire was deemed out and crews began cleaning up and going back into service.
The Niagara Falls Fire Investigation Unit responded to the scene and is conducting an arson investigation.