NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – The FDNY battled a fire at a row of stores in the Bronx on Thursday morning, and while no injuries were reported in the fire, officials said an EMT was assaulted at the scene.
The fire erupted on the first floor of a 99-cent store at 1783 Westchester Ave. in the Parkchester section just after 6 a.m. and rose to three alarms as it spread to adjoining stores, creating "very heavy fire conditions," the FDNY said.
"Due to the amount of fire, we had to pull all our members out of the building and we went to exterior streams," FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Kevin Woods said. "We are operating with six large caliber streams and we're hitting pockets of fire. This will be an extended operation."
Videos show heavy smoke above the businesses and under the elevated 6 line subway tracks.
Some 140 FDNY members battled the fire before it was brought under control around 9:45 a.m. A total of seven business were affected.
No injuries were reported in the fire. However, officials said a 32-year-old female EMT was sexually assaulted at the scene. A man flagged down the EMT then grabbed and groped her before a colleague assisted her, officials said.
"As she approached, she was assaulted, inappropriately grabbed and held," said FDNY Chief of EMS Operations Lillian Bonsignore. "It required the help of one of our coworkers to help her break out of that situation."
"It is disgusting and inappropriate," Bonsignore said. "EMS is always here to save your lives, always here to help you no matter what the situation is, no matter who you are or where you come from."
The man was arrested and the EMT was taken for a medical evaluation.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The MTA said around 7 a.m. that 6 trains were bypassing the St. Lawrence Avenue station in both directions. Northbound trains resumed stops around 9:30 a.m.
