Almost a dozen firefighters were among the fourteen injured when a fire in Queens spread to several buildings on Saturday. Just after 4 p.m., firefighters were summoned to a house on Francis Lewis Boulevard close to Hillside Avenue in Queens Village.
Officials from the New York City Fire Department reported that upon arrival, they discovered a “fierce fire” that was quickly spreading into several nearby buildings. Blocks away, massive clouds of black smoke were seen.
With over 200 firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics coming to the scene, the fire swiftly escalated to a fifth alarm.
According to FDNY authorities, fires spread to many storeys of five buildings that had a common cockloft—the unfinished area beneath the roof. Two garages, a few cars, and two nearby buildings were also slightly damaged.
In almost two hours, firefighters put out the fire, according to fire officials.
Three civilians and eleven firefighters were sent to nearby hospitals to get treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. The most of the injuries, according to officials, were caused by the heat.
“It was a very difficult fire fight, very warm today, very humid. And it takes a toll on our firefighters,” FDNY Acting Chief of Department John Esposito stated.
The FDNY stated that propane cylinders in the back of the structure might have contributed to the fire, while the cause of the incident is still being investigated.
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On Saturday night, firefighters stayed to look for hot areas. Firefighters did not need to perform any rescues because every resident was able to leave their homes.
“It just started from the neighbor’s house and then came all the way into our house … My mom, she was doing some work in the kitchen, and then she heard noise and she went outside on the deck, and then she saw fire, fire all over the place. And then it just came into our house,” one resident stated.
According to the Red Cross, they were helping 10 children and 22 adults who had been displaced by the fire.
