NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A total of three firefighters were hurt while battling a fire at a home in the Clason Point section of the Bronx on Friday afternoon, two of which were hospitalized for serious injuries, authorities said.
The blaze broke out at a two-story home at 344 White Plains Rd., near Patterson Avenue, at around 3 p.m., officials said.
According to the FDNY, the two-alarm fire began on the second floor of the residence and extended to the home next door.
FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said that firefighters responded to the scene in under five minutes, and said that in the midst of the response one of the firefighters signaled he was in trouble.
“One of our members gave a ‘mayday.’ A mayday means that a member is critically injured,” Kavanagh said. “That member was pulled out of the fire unconscious and was tagged as a red tag. They were immediately treated on scene by two EMS lieutenants, began resuscitation.”
Medics also administered hydroxocobalamin to the injured firefighter, which battles cyanide toxicity after smoke inhalation. “We do believe that may have saved his life,” Kavanagh said.
Chief of Department John Hodgens added that the firefighter was in respiratory arrest from the house’s heavy head and smoke condition.
He was transported to NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi with serious, but not-life-threatening, injuries and will be held overnight.
“He’s awake, alert, receiving great care from the Jacobi staff, and all in all, this is a much better outcome than we thought it would be,” Hodgens said of the four-year FDNY veteran.
A second firefighter was seriously injured and transported to the same hospital. His injuries were serious, but he is stable and likely to return home Friday evening, authorities said.
A third firefighter was injured, but quickly treated and released.
There were no civilian injuries, but five people were displaced from their homes and are being aided by the American Red Cross.
Twenty-five units of 106 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene, and firefighters were able to get the fire under control by 4:31 p.m.
“Today’s incident is a reflection and a reminder of how dangerous the job of a firefighter is, and how they are really, optimum professionals in responding and dealing with these crises,” Mayor Eric Adams said.
The cause of the fire will be determined by fire marshals, and Kavanagh said that an investigation into the injuries will be carried out by the FDNY’s safety command.