10/02/2026
October 1, 2026
Structure Fire- Cleveland Avenue
Niagara Falls fire investigators and police detectives are investigating the cause of a fire that heavily damaged a home on Cleveland Avenue Thursday morning.
Just before 10:30 a.m., Niagara Falls police officers who were nearby reported a structure fire at 1014 Cleveland Avenue. Officers were able to assist a male resident from the rear of the home. It was initially reported that no one else was inside.
As firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy fire coming from a first-floor window. Crews immediately made an aggressive interior attack in an effort to quickly knock down the fire.
Due to the balloon-frame construction of the home, fire had traveled through concealed spaces within the walls, extending from the first floor into the attic.
As fire consumed the attic, firefighters continued their push into the upper portion of the structure. However, deteriorating conditions and heavy fire ultimately made the interior unsafe, forcing crews to back out. Emergency evacuation tones were sounded, and all firefighters were safely accounted for. No firefighter injuries were reported.
Following the evacuation, crews transitioned to defensive operations. Firefighters utilized the aerial master stream along with multiple handlines to attack the fire from the exterior.
Once the majority of the fire was knocked down, crews reentered the structure to extinguish remaining fire and hot spots.
Fire officials determined that at least two people had been living inside the home, despite the property previously being condemned.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
RobShots
