Additional Coverage:
- NYC 5-alarm fire injures at least 17 firefighters, others as blaze damages multiple apartment buildings (foxnews.com)
A large fire erupted Saturday morning in a Queens apartment complex, resulting in injuries to nearly two dozen people, including several firefighters from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).
According to FDNY Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods, the initial report came in just before 10 a.m. regarding a blaze at a two-story wooden building. Upon arrival, firefighters found two buildings fully engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading toward a third structure.
Firefighters bravely entered the second floor above the fire “under high heat and zero visibility” to rescue a trapped resident, who was safely evacuated and taken to the hospital.
In total, 17 firefighters, two Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel, and two civilians sustained injuries, none of which are considered life-threatening, Woods confirmed. He expressed gratitude to local hospitals for their prompt care of the injured responders.
The fire was classified as a fifth-alarm, mobilizing approximately 250 firefighters to the scene. The blaze caused significant damage to the historic wooden buildings, constructed in 1930, leaving many families displaced.
The fire is now under control, and authorities are actively investigating the cause.