Massive Fire Consumes Buffalo High Rise [VIDEO]

Downtown Buffalo was covered in smoke this afternoon after a fire broke out on Church Street.

Where was the fire?

The sound of sirens filled the air just after noon as first responders rushed to the Paul William Beltz building at 36 Church Street.  It was a four-alarm fire with smoke that reduced visibility drastically.  People on the 190 were claiming that the smoke was covering the highway.

Church Street has been closed from Delaware to Washington.

A press conference was held around 3pm.  They believe the main part of the fire began on the second floor of the building.  The fire is currently still burning as multiple agencies are working to fight the fire.  All occupants have been evacuated from the building, including all firefighters.  There were over 100 people working to fight that fire today.  They are fighting the fire from outside the building.

The buildings surrounding the Paul William Beltz building are being protected to avoid any spread of the fire.

County Buildings in the area are being closed

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has announced that he will be closing the county government campus near the fire.  That includes the Rath Building, Old County Hall, Family Court, 50 Delaware, and the Lincoln Building.

County Employees have been released.