One person is dead and three people, one of them a firefighter, went to the hospital early Friday morning as crews fought a blaze in a nine-unit house on Hancock Street on the West Side.
The fire near Chili and West Avenues broke out on the second floor and ravaged both the second and third floors of the apartment house. One of the floors and the roof collapsed, meaning firefighters had to fight the flames from outside. They were unable to get to the third floor where a woman in her 70s was reported to be trapped. Her body was recovered after the fire was out.
Two residents were injured and one firefighter suffered burns to his ears, but none of the injuries were serious.
The Rochester Arson Task Force is investigating along with police. Police Captain Frank Umbrino says there was a domestic disturbance call to the building before the fire was reported. Numerous people are being interviewed.
Umbrino said police don’t yet know what they’re dealing with, but for now they’re treating it as a crime scene.