BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo Common Council is set to meet on Tuesday and Councilwoman Zeneta Everhart wants answers about a recent fire in the Masten District. Everhart told WIVB News 4 that firefighters in her district were slowed down in their response during a blaze because some hydrants were not working.
When firefighters race towards danger, every second counts, but during a fire on Sept. 5, first responders ran into quite the problem.
“The fire hydrants that the fire department were trying to access on the street were not operable,” said Everhart. “I mean, it’s the difference between life and death.”
According to city officials, the fire started on the second floor of a home on Victoria Avenue. It then spread to two neighboring houses. At least four adults were forced out of their homes.
“These were homes that had been in their families for decades and for generations,” said Everhart. “That makes it even harder of a situation to deal with. These are children who grew up in these homes and then came back.”
Everhart described this as a tragedy that she fears could have been avoided. She said what happened in her district raises bigger questions about safety across Buffalo.
“That’s a problem. That’s a big problem,” said Everhart. “That’s not a Masten District problem. That’s not a Victoria Avenue problem. That is a citywide problem, and I don’t know what fire hydrants are working or not working.”
Now, the councilwoman is looking for answers. The concern will be front and center at Tuesday’s Common Council meeting where Everhart plans to push for more information on hydrant inspections.
“I just want to make sure that our fire hydrants are being serviced the way they need to,” said Everhart. “Whatever schedule that they have set up to check these fire hydrants, we up that by six months. If they’re checking them yearly or every two years, I want them checked every six months. I don’t think that that’s a lot to ask.”
Everhart said the resolution will head to the community development committee and they’ll be inviting the Buffalo Water Board and the fire commissioner to that meeting. It’s scheduled for Sept. 23.
The cause of the Victoria Avenue fire remains under investigation.
Trina Catterson joined the News 4 team in 2024. She previously worked at WETM-TV in Elmira, a sister station of WIVB. See more of her work here.
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