JERICKA DUNCAN
WIVB
Reprinted with Permission

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. - A hectic and dangerous night for firefighters in the Cataract City.

Firefighters had a pair of vacant house fires on their hands late Wednesday night.

Now its up to the investigators to determine what sparked the flames.

Flames erupted at a vacant house on Falls Street around 11:30 Wednesday night and were roaring by the time firefighters arrived.

It was the second vacant building to go up in flames in just a few hours, and crews had a battle on their hands.

"Fire coming out of multiple windows and doors. We had some water supply problems here tonight. Fortunately, we were able to hold it to the original fire building and not extend into the exposures," said Chief William Mackay of the Niagara Falls Fire Department.

Earlier in the night, crews had battled flames at an abandoned building on 7th Street in the Falls.

Chief Mackay says fires like these present a tough challenge for firefighters.

Mackay said, "Anytime we go into those types of buildings, it really puts our forces in jeopardy."

"There are a lot of hazards in addition to the fire itself that present themselves to firefighters in these buildings," Mackay said.

Despite the dangerous situation, no injuries were reported.

Chief Mackay calls the fires "suspicious" but the cause remains under investigation.

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