Lockport fire investigators were trying to determine the cause of a Monday night fire at the former Pleasant Valley Tavern at 167 Van Buren St.
Emergency crews were called to the vacant structure about 11:15 p.m. Monday following a 911 call reporting flames coming from the roof.
Responding firefighters under the direction of Assistant Chief Josh Wolck encountered heavy flames coming from the door on the east side of the first floor and extending up an exterior wall. The fire had also spread to the second floor and burned through the roof.
The initial fire attack crew went into the home and made it to the base of a staircase leading to the second floor but the staircase was burned away. Crews were in the structure about 10 minutes before several roof joints fell into the second floor and all firefighters were ordered out of the building.
The fire was extinguished after about three hours. No injuries were reported.
Fire officials noted that the former tavern had been closed for several years and the building’s power had been disconnected. It’s believed squatters may have been using the structure as firefighters found several propane tanks and bedding material inside the building. No one was found in the building Monday night.
Investigators were on the scene Tuesday morning trying to determine the cause of the fire.