Niagara Falls firefighters spent much of Monday afternoon on the scene of a house fire on 17th Street.
Niagara Falls firefighters responded to the scene in the 600 block of 17th Street around 3:10 p.m. for reports of a possible structure fire after a 911 caller reported seeing smoke coming from the building.
The single occupant of the third-floor apartment was able to evacuate safely. The first- and second-floor apartments were reportedly empty.
First arriving firefighters confirmed a working fire. As the smoke thickened, firefighters made entry into the apartment building and began searching for the fire. Firefighters were initially unable to locate the fire and believed the fire was in the wall. As firefighters were about to breach a wall, fire conditions in the eaves and attic area changed rapidly and all firefighters were evacuated from the building and began defensive operations.
Using the aerial master stream and several handlines, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire.
Firefighters remained on scene into the night Monday.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.