In a dramatic turn of events in Queens, a towering inferno inside an apartment complex left almost 24 people injured, including a significant contingent of New York City firefighters.
According to Kevin Woods, the FDNY’s chief of Fire Operations, firefighters received the alarming call just before 10 a.m. Upon arrival, they found two-storied, wooden structures completely engulfed in flames, with the fire threatening a neighboring building.
Woods detailed that the rescue teams bravely maneuvered into the searing hot environment on the second floor, where visibility was virtually zero, to save a resident who was trapped.
Firefighters engage fiercely with a five-alarm blaze in Queens, N.Y., on Saturday. (FDNY)
Those affected were promptly transported to the hospital for treatment.
In total, 17 firefighters were injured, two members of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and two civilians.
None of the injuries are life-threatening, Woods said.
New York City firefighters regroup outside a residential building in Queens during an active fire response as crews continue working to extinguish the blaze on Saturday. (Peter Gerber)
“We want to thank the staff at all of these area hospitals for taking care of our personnel,” Woods added.
He said the fifth-alarm fire, which corresponds to using 250 firefighters, left “heavy damage” to the building and many of the families are displaced.
Firefighters spray water onto a severely damaged residential building during an active fire response as smoke and debris fill the air Saturday in Queens, N.Y. (Peter Gerber)
Woods added that the historic residences were built in 1930 and completely made of wood.
The fire is under control, he said, adding that the cause is under investigation.