Damage is expected to top $4 million in the massive four-alarm fire early Thursday that reduced a 50,000-square-foot Dingens Street pallet warehouse to smoldering rubble.

The origin and cause of the blaze that destroyed Superior Pallets Inc. at 136 Dingens St. were still being sought late Thursday by investigators from the Buffalo Fire Marshal's Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

There are no early indications foul play may have played a role, according to Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell W. Whitfield Jr.

The commissioner said about 100 Buffalo firefighters fought the blaze at its peak. Three reported "off duty", and five suffered minor injuries, one requiring hospitalization.

The initial alarm was received at 4:07 a.m.

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Photo gallery: Images from the scene

Video: Black smoke fills the sky

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Firefighters arrived on scene immediately and quickly realized the blaze had a hearty head start on them.

"It was completely engulfed, and there were a number of issues involved with this building," Whitfield said. "We went defensive almost immediately."

Twenty minutes after the first units arrived, a second alarm was sounded -- at 4:27 -- followed by the third alarm four minutes after that. The balance of the firefighting assignment on the fourth alarm was sent to the scene at 6:27.

The commissioner said the "wild fire" was being fueled by 3,000 burning wooden and plastic pallets inside the building, but firefighters were able to "cut off" the rapidly spreading fire and prevent it from jumping over to other businesses nearby, including the Niagara Tying Service building at 176 Dingens St.

"You couldn't even touch the side of that building because of the radiating heat from the fire," Whitfield said.

The commissioner said the firefighting was "a cooperative city effort" that also involved the city Public Works and Water departments. In addition to area hydrants and relays of water to the scene, firefighters tapped into a 48-inch main on Bailey Avenue to get more water, Whitfield said, and the city raised water pressure.

The fire was under control in about four hours.

Exposure damage to the building at 176 Dingens St. was kept to $50,000. Another nearby building on James E. Casey Drive sustained $5,000 exposure damage.

"A four-alarm fire is very rare. It does require our full attention," Whitfield said. "It does max out our personnel."

An examination of Buffalo News archives shows Thursday's fire was the fifth four-alarm blaze in the city since 2000 and first in nearly four years. The others were:

• Nov. 4, 2006, at Bandag Tire warehouse, 202 Walden Ave.
• April 27, 2005, at Buffalo Weaving & Belting Co., 260 Chandler St.
• Oct. 11, 2003, at the International Institute, 864 Delaware Ave.
• June 22, 2002, at Precision Millwork, 315 Babcock St.

The Aug. 24, 2009, fire at a Genesee Street deli that claimed the lives of Firefighter Jonathan S. Croom and Lt. Charles W. "Chip" McCarthy was three alarms.

Of Thursday's firefighters' injuries, Whitfield said three had respiratory issues, including one who was expected to be hospitalized with high blood levels of carbon dioxide. The others suffered minor back, ankle and shoulder injuries.

Given that none of the injuries were considered life-threatening, Whitfield regards the battle as a success and credited firefighters' dedication to their job.

"For us, that's a good day at the office," Whitfield said, adding that firefighters at the Dingens Street blaze were expected to return to duty for their regular shifts later Thursday. "They'll be at work making sure the city is well protected," he said.

Superior Pallets was not staffed at the time of the fire. Whitfield said no one was inside the building when firefighters arrived. It was unclear to what extent the company is insured.

Superior Pallets, according to its Web site, describes itself as "Western New York's largest supplier of shipping pallets." In 2008, the company processed 800,000 pallets.

Calls to the company late Thursday were met by the company's answering machine.

News Staff Reporters Maki Becker and Lauren Mariacher contributed to this report.

tpignataro@buffnews.comnull