Residents of a North Buffalo apartment building were quickly forced out of their homes when flames erupted around 9:30 a.m. Friday.
It is believed the two-alarm fire started on the second floor of the three-story brick building at the corner of Amherst Street and Delaware Avenue.
According to published reports, a woman jumped out of her second-floor window just moments before flames encroached upon her, landing on her back. The woman was among four people, including a fire chief, who were injured in the panic, though there are no reports of fatalities.
The fire chief was treated and released from ECMC with a minor knee injury. Two residents remained in ECMC late Friday with apparent non-life threatening injuries, according to a city spokesman. The other resident was treated and released.
Kara Hite, senior director of advancement with the American Red Cross, says a the organization's Disaster Action Team is at the scene.
"We have seven team members there assessing the needs of the residents," said Hite.
Displaced residents are being provided vouchers for food, clothing, and temporary housing. The Red Cross estimates around 25 people living in 18 units are in need of assistance.
Anyone seeking to make a donation to the local chapter can go to redcross.org, call 1-800-Red-Cross, or text the words "Red Cross" to 90999 to make a $10 donation via a cell phone bill.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation. Total damage is estimated at $225,000, with $150,000 damages to the structure and $75,000 to the contents.
