A massive fire erupted at a Staten Island autobody junkyard on Friday, prompting immediate action from emergency responders, including hazardous materials experts, city officials said.

According to FDNY officials, the 3-alarm blaze broke out at 99 Rector St., between Castleton Avenue and Hurst Street, located in Port Richmond on the borough’s North Shore at around 9:50 p.m. on Sept. 11. FDNY sources said multiple cars went on fire in the rear junkyard of the one-story shop.

FDNY officials said they immediately contacted the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Auto body shops often contain substances such as paints, primers and other potentially harmful materials. amNewYork contacted the DEP for more information about its role in assessing the fire and is awaiting a response at press time. 

In the meantime, the city’s Emergency Management Office issued an emergency alert to New Yorkers in the area at the time of the fire.

“Three Alarm Fire: Rector Street & Castleton Avenue, Staten Island,” the alert read. “Expect smoke & traffic delays in the area. People nearby should avoid smoke and close windows.”

After the first call about the fire was made just before 10 p.m, a second alarm was made at 10:12 p.m., according to the Staten Island Advance. A third alarm was transmitted at 10:20 p.m, fire department officials said. 

Sixty-three units and 192 fire and Emergency Medical Service personnel responded to the scene. Well after 11 p.m., multiple units were still seen battling the blaze as thick smoke continued to fill the night air.

HAPPENING NOW: FDNY units are operating at a 3-alarm fire on Rector Street on Staten Island. pic.twitter.com/SENMM3Tg9e

— FDNY (@FDNY) September 12, 2026

FDNY photos showed two tower ladders attacking the fire from above.

Meanwhile, no one was on the premises at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported, the FDNY said.

Witnesses at the scene, according to the Staten Island Advance, said the FDNY used drones to survey the junkyard and also used a tower ladder to help put out the flames. 

Staten Islanders seeing photos and videos of the fire and smoke expressed concern on social media.

“Hope everybody’s okay,” one man wrote. “Sirens have been going past the [Staten Island] zoo for like an hour.”

A woman commented, “I hope anyone around there wasn’t affected and everyone is safe.”

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze at 12:04 a.m., according to FDNY sources. Meanwhile, FDNY fire marshals continue to investigate the cause of the fire. 

The fire erupted just one day after a series of explosions and a barge fire left one person dead and two firefighters injured near the borough’s Mariners Harbor area the afternoon of Sept. 10. NYPD helicopters circled the area from above while traffic below was diverted to allow first responders and EMS access to the scene.

Authorities have not yet released the identity of the man who was killed in the tragic incident, but multiple sources report him as being a worker on the barge. 

The cause of the incident is still under investigation.  

Fire safety information

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