LaSalle Avenue Fire Under Investigation | News

BUFFALO, NY - An early morning fire has investigators sending evidence off to the lab.

Buffalo Fire Battalion Chief Peter Kertzie says the fire happened on the front porch of a home along the 600 block of LaSalle Avenue in the city's Kensington section.

The fire broke out just after 3 a.m. and was quickly put out by firefighters.

The resident and their dog were able to escape the fire unharmed.

Investigators from both the Buffalo Police Department and Buffalo Fire Department are looking into reports that the home could have been the target of a fire bombing.

From his stand point, Kertzie says he didn't see any evidence that would allow him to say for sure that the fire was a result of a fire bombing.

"We came here, put the fire out, if there is something obvious suspicious we make a note of it.  I personally did not see anything obviously suspicious.  Again, the investigators will take a look and they'll narrow it down," said Kertzie.

Kertzie told us that Buffalo Arson Investigators smelled some vapors of gas around the fire scene.  They will be doing further testing in a laboratory setting to make a final determination on the fire.

"They'll find out if there were any flammable liquids; if there was a fire bombing as you heard on the scanner.  But, no evidence of that right now," added Kertzie.

Total damages are estimated at $6,000.