Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia said on April 11 that personnel from the Erie County Holding Center and the Buffalo Fire Department responded to a fire that broke out overnight at the facility.
The incident highlights concerns about the physical infrastructure of the jail, with officials noting that swift action helped prevent injuries or more serious damage.
According to information provided by the sheriff’s office, the fire began at approximately 12:50 a.m. in an electrical room on the ground floor of the holding center. Jail Management Division staff used portable fire extinguishers to fight the blaze until firefighters arrived. The scene was cleared by Buffalo Fire Department personnel at around 1:50 a.m.
About ten minutes after the fire started, four incarcerated individuals were moved as a precaution but later returned to their assigned housing unit. No injuries were reported among staff or those held at the facility. Preliminary findings suggest a mechanical malfunction, possibly involving a faulty coolant hose during generator testing, may have caused the fire.
“I have sincere appreciation for everyone who acted swiftly this morning to put the fire out,” said Sheriff Garcia. “Our Jail Management Division staff worked quickly to keep incarcerated individuals, coworkers and the community safe, and Buffalo firefighters bravely rushed in to help.”
Garcia also said, “While we still need to find out exactly what went wrong, this incident should serve as a warning that we must address the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Jail Management Division’s physical infrastructure. Without proper investment, we are risking the safety of our staff and incarcerated population. We will continue to work hand-in-hand with Erie County Buildings & Grounds to focus on what happened and study the issue.”
Officials indicated they would further investigate what led up to this event and consider improvements for future safety.
