Watch: NY Firefighter Unaccounted for in Massive Commercial Fire

March 1, 2023
A Mayday from a Buffalo firefighter came after a backdraft and collapse early in the operation on Main Street.

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A Buffalo firefighter is unaccounted for following a four-alarm fire in downtown Wednesday.

Buffalo Fire Commissioner William Renaldo told reporters the missing firefighter is from Engine 2.

“The hardest thing, actually, was keeping our firefighters from entering the building to rescue our fallen firefighter in the building. That was the most difficult part of it,” Renaldo said at an afternoon press conference.

A mayday call was issued early in the operation while crews 

The commissioner said due to significant damage, it will be a while before firefighters can get into the building.

Firefighters were called to DC Theatricks on Main Street just before 10 a.m.

Smoke and flames could be seen for several miles. 

"I was one of the first people out here and for a few seconds it was just smoke," Jason Colston told 2 On Your Side at the scene. "The there was a burst of flames and you could hear the floor fall and the firefighters started yell about how the floor it fell."  

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