BREAKING: TWENTY NYC firefighters are injured – three of them seriously – while battling a huge blaze that has destroyed a home on Staten Island
- A massive fire has broken out at a home in the Arden Heights neighborhood of Staten Island
- Twenty firefighters were injured, three of them seriously, when part of the building suddenly collapsed after debris rained down on them
- All of the injured firefighters were found and rescued from the building – it took almost another hour to contain the fire
Twenty New York City firefighters were injured, three seriously, while battling a massive blaze at a Staten Island home.
The fire broke out at a home in the Arden Heights neighborhood on Shotwell Avenue.
The injuries occurred when part of the burning building suddenly collapsed around 1:26 p.m. Friday, raining debris on rescuers.
Thick black smoke could be seen from the website and locals posted footage on the Citizen app’s social media.
Firefighters initially attempted to enter the homes at 88 and 84 Shotwell Avenue, but were pushed back by the flames as the building gave way.
Even before the fire brigade was on site, huge flames could be seen at the site of the house fire
Thick black smoke could be seen in the neighborhood on Friday night
NYC firefighters battle a house fire along Shotwell Avenue in the Staten Island borough of New York
Dozens of firefighters respond to a 4-alarm residential fire in Staten Island on Friday
Twenty firefighters were injured in the afternoon fire, at least three of them seriously
Firefighters were seen throwing combustible material out of the burning house
Thick smoke billowed from the wooden houses
Dozens of firefighters were at the scene trying to fight the blaze
The FDNY has updated the progress of the situation on social media
The firefighters were not trapped in the actual collapse but appeared to have been caught up in the fire itself.
All injured firefighters were caught and dragged out of the building.
Three were taken to Staten Island University Hospital North with serious injuries, and the remaining 17 were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
It took almost an hour for the fire to be brought under control.
At 2:30 p.m., there were still hot spots in the collapsed rubble.
Investigators are now working to determine the cause of the fire.
New York City Councilman Joe Borelli, who represents parts of Staten Island, told PIX11 that preliminary reports indicated the firefighters were expected to survive.
Other residents watched spellbound as thick black smoke drifted through the neighborhood
Locals recorded the drama on their phones as they drove near the fire
The houses in the foreground are dwarfed by the enormous plume of smoke that could be seen rising
It was seen how the fire brigade removed damaged material from the houses
Firefighters used giant ladders to get inside the house and pour water on the flames
Smoke choked the burning buildings and made it difficult to see
One in 20 injured firefighters is rushed to an ambulance as dozens of firefighters respond to a 4-call alert
Local residents watch as dozens of firefighters respond to the Staten Island fire
More than 200 firefighters were on duty on Friday afternoon
At a news conference just before 4:30 p.m. Friday afternoon at the scene of the fire, FDNY chief Brian Gorman said it was still unclear how the fire started.
Gorman explained how the FDNY received a call just before 1:30 p.m. when firefighters discovered a “severe fire” in the back of the building, Gorman said.
Over 200 firefighters and paramedics were deployed.
“Members quickly fell into the trap,” Gorman said. “We had a fireman come out the front window. We had a firefighter, a lieutenant, who was rescued on the second floor of 84.”
Firefighters climb a ladder into one of the burning buildings
Little could be seen of the road as it slowly became shrouded in fog
Local residents watched in horror as firefighters arrived to fight the blaze
Residents from surrounding houses took photos and videos of the fire
A line of fire engines parked along Woodrow Road as New York City firefighters tackle a house fire
The area was cordoned off while firefighters battled the blaze on Friday afternoon
The fire that led to the partial collapse of one of the buildings