ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Crews are working to demolish a commercial building on Canal Street off West Main Street after a four-alarm fire broke out on Monday night.

A firefighter injured his ankle while battling the flames and is home recovering. The fire broke out around 7:15 p.m. and caused part of the building to collapse. No one was inside when the fire started.

Several homes and businesses in the area had to evacuate as a precaution while firefighters from more than 14 companies responded. It took firefighters more than three hours to get the blaze under control.

News10NBC spoke with the owner of a nearby hair salon called The Style Council. He says that, while his business wasn’t affected, the neighborhood won’t be the same without that building.

“It’s bizarre, you know. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet because it’s going to be a gap that we’re used to seeing. That great building,” Trevor Lake said.

About 150 firefighters responded to the building. The Rochester Fire Department says one of the building’s walls collapsed outward as firefighters battled the blaze. Because of the risk of collapse, firefighters at the scene said it was difficult to get close to the building, which prolonged the fight.

“Companies began defensive operations, which means they didn’t make entry because there was a risk of collapse,” RFD Public Information Officer Lt. Jackie Sierra said. “So, the fire was in the structural numbers at that point. Companies stayed outside, between handlines and master streams, and they started to put water on it defensively. The fire was upgraded to a fourth alarm because of the amount of fire. So companies are still working on putting the fire out at the moment.”

Early Tuesday morning, News10NBC saw crews still spraying water at the top of the building to put out any remaining hotspots. There were also cranes at the scene. Crews are still investigating the cause of the fire.

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