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Official: Hot Bulb Hitting Cardboard Sparked Massive Western NY Fire

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Dave Lucas
Published November 9, 2016 at 1:17 PM EST
WAMC Composite Photo by Dave Lucas

Authorities say a hot light bulb that fell onto cardboard sparked a massive blaze at the former Bethlehem Steel site outside Buffalo.

WGRZ-TV reported that a Lackawana city official said the fire started early Wednesday when a hot bulb fell on combustibles at the industrial site just south of Buffalo.

TV news footage and video images showed a large building engulfed in flames - massive clouds of black smoke billowing -  the roof of the building collapsing. The flames have since diminished, but smoke continues to spew from the building, which includes a recycling business.

Authorities told residents of Lackawanna and neighboring communities to stay in their homes.

No injuries have been reported.

© 2016 AP
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New York News buffalofire investigation
Dave Lucas
Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.
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