A five-alarm fire ripped through a Queens residential block Saturday morning, injuring at least 21 people including 17 firefighters and two EMS workers, and displacing multiple families from their homes.
The fire broke out just before 10 a.m. at a two-story wooden apartment building. Firefighters arriving on scene found the blaze had already engulfed two structures and was actively spreading to a third.
FDNY Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods said crews faced brutal conditions, navigating the second floor above the active fire under "high heat and zero visibility" to rescue a trapped resident.
"This was an extremely challenging operation," Woods said at a briefing following the incident. "Our personnel showed tremendous courage working under those conditions."
All injuries appear to be non-life-threatening, though many of those hurt were transported to area hospitals for evaluation and treatment.
Approximately 250 firefighters were deployed to contain the multi-building fire. The wooden structures, built in 1930, sustained heavy damage. Woods noted that the buildings' entirely wooden construction presented significant challenges for containment.
Multiple families have been displaced. The city's Office of Emergency Management and the Red Cross typically coordinate emergency housing resources in coming days.
The cause of the fire remains under active investigation by FDNY fire marshals and NYPD investigators. Initial findings have not been released.
For updates on displacement assistance, residents and family members should contact the FDNY Community Affairs office or the city's 311 service line.
