MICHELE MCCLINTICK
WIVB
Reprinted with Permission

BUFFALO, N.Y. - BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - There are twists in the overnight fire that sent a Buffalo firefighter to the hospital and could have killed a pregnant woman if not for the quick action of fire crews.


Homeowner Murray Roberts said, "I've been trying to put the pieces together, but I can't."

Murray Roberts is the owner of a home on Goodyear Avenue. She was there around 1 a.m. Tuesday, cleaning.

Her brothers live downstairs and they were home an hour later, when flames ripped through the front of the house.

Buffalo Fire Division Chief John Mogavero said, "Went over towards the side of the building and found a woman hanging out the back end of it."

The woman, who is 5 1/2 months pregnant, was taken to ECMC. Her fiance didn't want to talk on camera, but says she suffered from smoke inhalation.

"They called and told me there was a fire on the front porch and I just came running," said Murray.

Murray says she was at the house, cleaning the house because she was having out of town family members stay at the house this coming weekend. They were going to be here for her sister's funeral.

Murray's says her sister was found dead in the house last weekend.

Shirley Conway, 63, lived upstairs with her boyfriend.

Murray says Tuesday morning's fire, that seems to have started on the porch, is just too suspicious.

Murray said, "Right away I'm thinking it was retaliation or something because we're asking the police to take him to jail."

Now, Murray's house is torched.

Fire officials say they are still investigating, but they do find it suspicious.

The sheriff's office is also involved in this investigation, along with Buffalo Police Department.

Officials say they were called to the same house for a death of a 63-year-old woman and the case remains under investigation.

Murray Roberts says detectives were back at the scene Tuesday morning.

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