NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A volatile fire tore through a row of houses in Queens on Saturday injuring 14 people, and less than 24 hours later another house fire injured six more. Thirteen of those hurt in the two blazes were firefighters injured while battling flames, the FDNY said.
At about 4 p.m. on Saturday, fire officials responded to a report of a fire in a private home at 88-21 Francis Lewis Blvd., located near Hillside Avenue and 89th Avenue in Queens Village.
“When the fire companies arrived on the scene, they encountered a rapidly expanding fire condition,” Acting Chief of Department John Esposito said.
Over 200 fire and EMS personnel responded to the 5-alarm blaze, the FDNY said, and 14 people suffered minor injuries, many of which were heat related. Eleven of those injured were firefighters.
“Because of the work of our firefighters, under these difficult fire conditions, we were able to control this fire in about two hours,” Fire Deputy Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer said at a Saturday press conference.
The danger of the fire was exacerbated by the hot, humid weather and the explosion of propane tanks that were stored in the rear, where the fire seems to have spread, fire officials said.
“The fire department responded within two minutes, but this was a very fierce fire, and it spread to seven buildings and into the rear garage areas—two garages in the rear,” Pfieifer said.
The row of attached houses were gutted, and officials said that seven homes were displaced.
Anthony, who lives down the block and whose house was spared, told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880 that he was glad the injuries were not worse, considering the amount of families in the area.
“It was horrible, and we were just fortunate and lucky that nobody got killed, because there are kids that live here, and they play in the—there’s an alleyway in the back,” he said. “And it’s unique that at least they have a place to play, and luckily none of them were hurt.”
“We have been on the scene at the site of the fire,” Councilmember Linda Lee, who represents the area, posted on X. “FDNY will maintain a presence overnight as the investigation continues.”
The fire marshal is still investigating the cause of the fire, but no foul play is suspected.
This extensive blaze was followed by another fire Sunday morning, this time at a small semi-attached Woodside house. The fire left six people injured, including two firefighters.
The injuries of both the firefighters and one of the civilians were minor, but three civilians suffered serious, life-threatening injuries, fire officials said.
The NYPD confirmed that two people, ages 7 and 29, are in critical condition but expected to survive.
“Four civilians, three were in serious condition. One was stable and in addition we have two firefighters who were both in stable condition,” Deputy EMS Chief JT Demon said. He noted that most of the injuries were smoke inhalation.
It happened at 68-06 37th Rd., located near 68th Street. The FDNY received a call reporting the fire at 7:17 a.m.
The fire began in the basement of the 3-story dwelling, the FDNY said. Sixty fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene, and the blaze was under control within an hour.
The fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.