Town of Tonawanda officials are investigating an overnight fire that claimed the life of a Glendale Elementary School student. Brighton Fire Company Chief Andrew Hallnan said a 911 call came in for smoke filling the single-family home at 116 Sunset Terrace. He said seven crews reponded, but they were "pushed back by heat and flames," then the entire home "flashed over," engulfing the site.
Hallnan said a firefighter and town police officer sustained minor injuries, received medical attention at the scene and returned to duty.
Police Capt. Nicholas Bado confirmed the fatality, but did not release any other details, out of respect for the family. An autopsy is being conducted to determine an exact cause of death.
The house is a total loss. Town police and the Erie County Sheriff's Department are investigating the cause of the blaze.
"The damage to the home was substantial," Bado said Friday. "A surrounding home also sustained some damage."
Bado said the Red Cross have responded to temporarily relocate the family, but he would not say how many adults lived at or were home at the time of the fire. He said the loss of life is weighing heavily on everyone involved.
"Due to the fatality and the sensitive nature of it all, the weight of it on individuals involved in our business, fire police and community, there’s some support going on for that aspect of it, as well, at this point," Bado said.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family. On the page, the victim is identified as Seth Creenan.
Sweet Home Central Schols Superintendent Anthony Day posted a letter of condolence on the district's website and said counselors are being made available to students:
Ronald Peralta and Ryan Zunner contributed to this report.
