BUFFALO, N.Y. — An early morning fire that broke out at the Buffalo Grand Hotel Thursday has the owner suspicious.

What You Need To Know

  • Buffalo Grand Hotel owner Harry Stinson signed a contract with Wyndham Hotels on Wednesday around 9:20 p.m. while in Canada, which is where he lives

  • A 3-alarm fire broke out at the hotel around 1:00 a.m. Thursday
  • Stinson said the timing was suspicious, especially since nobody should have been in the area that the fire is believed to have started
  • No one was seriously injured and the incident is under investigation

Harry Stinson purchased the property about three and a half years ago for nearly $20 million and said he’s encountered roadblock after roadblock in trying to renovate it.

“When I bought this hotel nearly four years ago, if I’d known what I was in for it would’ve made a great reality show,” said Stinson. “Because it’s been one thing after another here.”

The latest of the roadblocks is Thursday’s 1:00 a.m. fire that caused at least $3 million in damages. The blaze broke out just hours after Stinson signed a contract with Wyndham Hotels while he was in Canada, where he lives.

“It’s hard to say but I don’t think this was an accident,” said Stinson. “The construction guys had gone off for the holidays so there was nobody working there. It was completely empty. Everything was shut down. So it was a bit unusual.”

The three-alarm fire is believed to have started somewhere around the ballroom and kitchen area. Buffalo Fire Commissioner William Renaldo said the blaze was contained and did not affect any of the guests’ rooms. The fire department is utilizing K9s to sniff for fire accelerators. There was only one minor injury to a firefighter who remained on-duty.

Stinson said the deal with Wyndham Hotels remains and he will continue to renovate as well as repair fire damage.

“I don’t really see it as, it’s not an end,” Stinson said. “It’s certainly an interruption, but I do think it will prove to be that phoenix-like moment for the hotel.”

The hotel was empty as of 11:00 a.m. Thursday but Stinson said he believes he can still take guests as soon as New Year’s Eve.