A fast-moving 5-alarm fire engulfed three neighboring homes on 41st Road in Flushing killing a 78-year-old woman and injuring two of her neighbors.
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
An elderly woman was killed, and 17 firefighters were injured along with two EMS members while battling a five-alarm fire that gutted three neighboring wood-frame homes in Flushing on Saturday morning.
The FDNY received a 911 call at 7:52 a.m. on July 25 reporting a fire at 132-15 41st Rd. and responding units found the building and the adjacent home engulfed in fire and heavy smoke and after flames extended to a third home, a second alarm at 12:02 p.m.
“Our engine companies moved in with multiple handlines in all of these buildings, very aggressively, very deliberately,” FDNY Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods said. “Many lives were saved by the proper positioning of hoselines.”
With a report of people trapped inside, firefighters from Rescue 4 got above the fire on the second floor of the main fire building and rescued a resident despite high heat and zero visibility and without the protection of a hoseline.
Rescue 4 firefighters on the roof of the main fire building at 132-15 41st Rd. that extended to two neighboring homes. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
A third alarm was transmitted at 10:29 p.m. followed 10 minutes later with a fourth alarm and after two civilians with critical injuries were located a fifth alarm was transmitted at 11:57 p.m. bringing a total of 84 units with 270 firefighters and EMS personnel to the scene along Sanford Avenue between College Point Boulevard and Frame Place.
A fifth-alarm was transmitted, bringing 84 units and 270 firefighters and EMS personnel to the scene on Sanford Avenue between College Point Boulevard and Frame Place. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
A 78-year-old woman in critical condition was rushed by EMS to New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said. EMS transported two other civilians to New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital. One was listed in critical condition, while the other resident was listed in stable condition. Seventeen firefighters and two EMS members suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to area hospitals.
The fire was brought under control at 1:47 p.m. FDNY fire marshals will determine the cause. There have been no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing, according to an NYPD spokesperson.
The DOB issued full vacate orders for each of the heavily damaged homes. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Inspectors from the city’s Department of Buildings were called to the scene for a structural stability inspection and found severe fire damage, including a missing roof in the original fire building at 132-15 41st Rd, a two-story, two-family home. Inspectors found that fire damage spread to neighboring properties. All three buildings were nearly a century old and DOB issued full vacate orders to the original fire building and 132-17 and 132-11 41st Rd.
After the fire was extinguished, the American Red Cross registered five households, including 8 adults, for emergency assistance, including financial aid and temporary housing.
“Our hearts are with the community after this tragic event,” a Red Cross spokeswoman said, adding that any residents affected by the fire who did not connect with the Red Cross responders while they were on scene should call 877-RED CROSS, and select option 1 to register.