Buffalo Fire now considers Cobblestone District Fire ‘suspicious’

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Buffalo Fire Commissioner William Renaldo say the two-alarm fire that partially destroyed two Civil War-era buildings in the Cobblestone District is ” suspicious nature.

“In the case of the paving stone, there was no public service, no gas, no electricity,” Commissioner Renaldo said. “These buildings don’t usually catch fire on their own, so it’s suspicious in nature.”

At the request of Mayor Brown, Commissioner Renaldo asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) to assist in the investigation.

Renaldo said Buffalo Fire and ATF investigators plan to examine the buildings at 110 and 118 South Park Ave. to determine if it is safe enough for forensic investigators to enter the building.

“The firefighters haven’t entered the building yet,” Renaldo said.

News of the ATF’s involvement in the decision comes as the city and building owner Darryl Carr were informed that Erie County Court Judge Sheila DiTullio had overturned a decision that would have allowed Carr to demolish the buildings.

In January 2023, Buffalo Housing Court Judge Patrick Carney granted Carr a demolition request for the Cobblestone District buildings.

The city of Buffalo immediately filed a lawsuit against the decision, and Judge DiTullio overturned it on June 18, the same day as the fire.

But neither the city of Buffalo nor Carr were informed of the decision until Monday afternoon.

“I’m not trying to connect the two at all,” Mayor Brown said. “We will see where the investigation leads but I am not drawing any conclusions on the judge’s decision and the start of the fire.”

Carr reiterated to 2 On Your Side Tuesday afternoon that he will appeal Judge DiTullio’s decision.

“I have spoken with my attorneys and we are appealing the judge’s decision,” Carr said. “Obviously, that was the opinion of a county judge.”

Speculation about the cause of the fire dominated much of the conversation on social media, with many comments pointing the finger at Carr as the one who started the fire.

“I’ve heard all kinds of crazy stories,” Carr said. “That the city set the fire, I set the fire. You know, all these things, they’re just conspiracy theories.”

Carr said he had a history of squatters in the building during his nearly two decades of ownership of both properties.

As for the ATF now being involved in the investigation, Carr said he welcomes their extensive expertise.

“I’m really happy they brought the ATF in,” Carr said. “I hope they find out the cause, whether it was a man or God or who knows? I can’t speculate on that.”