A cooking-related accident is believed to be the cause of a fire that broke out in a unit of a Park Avenue apartment complex on Tuesday. One occupant of the building had to be extricated by Lockport firefighters and was taken to Lockport Memorial Hospital as a precaution for smoke inhalation.
Two Lockport Police officers who tried to rescue the occupant from the third floor were treated for smoke inhalation as well, according to Fire Chief Luca Quagliano.
Firefighters were dispatched to 503 Park Ave., a three-floor, six-unit apartment house, shortly before 2:50 p.m. Tuesday. A 911 caller had relayed that smoke was filling the building, and when firefighters arrived on the scene they saw smoke coming from a third-floor window on the front / south side of the building.
Quagliano said firefighters were immediately told about an occupant needing extrication on the third floor and that two LPD officers had already gone into the building to try to rescue them.
A firefighter found the occupant and the police officers in apartment 6, at the top of the staircase to the third floor, and carried the occupant out of the building. The police officers were able to exit on their own, Quagliano said.
Another firefighter entered apartment 5, found some burning furniture, and extinguished the blaze.
The other apartments were searched for occupants and none were found. The fire and fire damage were contained to apartment 5, according to Quagliano, but units below sustained minor water damage. Crews operated on the scene for about two hours, he said.
Multiple occupants of three apartment units are being assisted by American Red Cross. Occupants of the other three units were able to return home.
Quagliano said the cause remains under investigation but it appears the fire was cooking-related. The property damage estimate is $10,000.
Only one of the six apartment units had working smoke detectors, the chief added.