Two firefighters were injured while fighting a two-alarm fire in Flatbush on Tuesday night.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
A two-alarm fire left two Flatbush homes uninhabitable and two firefighters injured on Tuesday night.
The blaze broke out in a two-story home at 836 Brooklyn Ave., near Linden Boulevard, at about 8 p.m. on March 31, according to the FDNY.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire on the first floor of the building and flames spreading into an adjoining home and quickly triggered a second alarm, bringing a total of 141 fire and EMS personnel to the scene.
“I smelled heavy smoke, I went out to investigate and I turned the corner to orange flames and firefighters racing to the scene,” one neighbor told Brooklyn Paper. “It looked like a movie.”
More than 141 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell 
Firefighters ran hoselines over a car to reach the hydrant. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
First responders quickly deployed three hose lines — threading them over a car parked in front of the hydrant — and worked aggressively to knock down the main body of the fire inside the home.
Two firefighters were taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, per the FDNY, but no civilians were harmed. The fire was placed under control about an hour just after 9 p.m.
The blaze left both homes badly damaged, both were vacated by the Department of Buildings early on Wednesday morning. At 836 Brooklyn Ave., where the fire began, there were holes in the roof, records show, and the structure was charred and unsound. The blaze left the neighboring home in perhaps worse shape, with both the roof and rear wall destroyed and open to the elements. Both homes are registered as single-family, with just one unit each, according to city records.
An inspector also noted that the homeowner at 836 Brooklyn Ave. had previously been cited for illegally using the basement as a commercial woodworking shop, and had installed new electrical wiring, partitions and a shed without a permit. Records show that after the DOB issued a citation in 2022, the homeowner “removed excessive combustible material” and columns from the basement and had dismantled the shed in the yard. At the time, “no contrary occupancy” was observed.
A firefighter breathes into his mask on the scene. Two firefighters were hospitalized with minor injuries. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
Four households comprising 12 people registered for emergency assistance with the American Red Cross, a spokesperson said, including temporary housing and financial support.
“Our Disaster Action Team was able to connect with impacted residents to ensure they have a safe place to stay and financial assistance as they begin their recoveries, and our casework team will meet with these residents in coming days to help connect them with longer-term recovery support as needed from government and/or non-profit partners,” they said.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation by the FDNY fire marshal.
Update, 4/1/27, 5:12 p.m.: This story has been updated with additional information from the American Red Cross.