A two-alarm blaze destroyed two buildings and damaged two homes Saturday in the city's University Heights neighborhood.
The fire started just before 4 p.m. Saturday at an auto repair shop on the corner of Bailey and Hewitt avenues, then spread to a Chinese restaurant next door, Fire Commissioner Garnell W. Whitfield Jr. said at the scene.
Everyone from the shop and restaurant was evacuated.
Flames also reached a home next to the restaurant and heavily damaged another house on Hewitt adjacent to the repair shop, which was a loss.
The shop is directly across the street from Engine 23 firehouse at 3226 Bailey.
Firefighters swung into action after the owner of the repair shop ran across the street to report the fire, Whitfield said.
About 70 fire personnel were at the scene.
Three firefighters suffered minor burns and were taken Erie County Medical Center. Another firefighter was taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion.
