BUFFALO, N.Y. — A 55-year-old man is dead after an overnight fire in the Cazenovia Park neighborhood.

The building on Seneca Street is a total loss. Both buildings on the either side are damaged. But, congregation members of The Sanctuary Church are counting their blessings. Their place of worship suffered only minor water damage. 

"They began to pray and almost instantly, afterward, it just started to diminish," Pastor Tony Wozniak said. "I mean it was a fight, the firefighters did an outstanding job." 

The call came in around 1:30 a.m. Fire officials say three people, including the man who was killed, were taken to ECMC and Mercy Hospital. 

One of those individuals was rescued by neighbors, the other by fire crews. 

A firefighter was also taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation, but he has since been treated and released. 

Officials say the fire started in the second floor, over a bar, which was still open at the time of the incident. 

It has been too dangerous for crews to go inside, so they fought the fire defensively, from the outside. 

Fire officials say what's called a "cock loft" made it hard to fight the flames. 

"A dead void space above the second floor," said Paul Graham, Buffalo Division Fire Chief. "There's a lot of heat and a lot of smoke, but there's no visible fire. It was very difficult to fight because you can see it. There was a lot of smoke banks down because of all the humidty because of all the rain. So, the smoke didn't lift, it hung down, so it made it difficult."  

The Red Cross says it is helping two adults who have been displaced. No work yet on the identification of the victim or the conditions of those injured.