Young Buffalo firefighter dies after fireball traps him in Hell

A young firefighter died Wednesday after an inferno exploded at a Buffalo costume store, officials said, leaving him trapped.

The unidentified firefighter was about 30 feet inside a burning DC Theatricks store at 10 a.m. when a partial collapse caused by backflow pinned him to the ground, according to Fire Commissioner William Renaldo.

The other smoke-eaters were forced to leave their fallen comrade behind when an evacuation was called just before an intense backflow—an explosion of oxygen suddenly sucked inward by the smoldering flames before firing back—ripped through the building.

“Unfortunately, they weren’t able to pick him up at that time,” Renaldo said, adding that the exact cause of death is currently unknown.

The video shows the fireball bursting through a rapidly collapsing storefront and pavement as firefighters flee. The explosion knocked several of them to the ground.

Bright orange flames shattered glass and scattered debris across the street, with one large shard hitting one firefighter hard enough to knock him to the ground.

It took hours for the department to get to the site where the firefighter was killed and remove his body from the highly unstable structure.

After he recovered, the firemen paid him a small tribute and saluted as the ambulance took his body away.

No other serious injuries were reported.

Several hours passed before firefighters were able to return to the fire and retrieve his body. AP

Buffalo firefighters console each other as they wait to find the body of their fallen colleague. AP

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The firefighter was trapped when the building partially collapsed. AP

Officials believe the fire was caused by contractors using torches on the outside of the building. FBNY/Facebook

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Officials said the fire was likely started by contractors using torches to work outside the brick building.

Investigators believe the fire started when the flames of a torch burst through holes in the engine and ignited a large pile of paper products and other fuels that were inside the building on the opposite side of the wall.

Renaldo said the fire may have smoldered for a while before quickly turning into a deadly hell with four alarms.

The building is left in such a precarious state that the city plans to demolish it as soon as possible.

Mayor Byron Brown ordered flags to be flown at half-mast throughout the city in honor of the deceased smoke-eater.

The identity of the firefighter has not been released as the family has been notified, but the department’s chaplain described him as a “young man” with a wife and child.

“He joined a long line of firefighters who have also sacrificed themselves over the years of service to the community,” said Renaldo.

With mail wires

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