Fourteen firefighters were injured, one of them seriously, while they battled a four-alarm fire in East Elmhurst on Sunday afternoon. The FDNY received a call at 2:54 p.m. of a fire in a two-family home at 26-26 93rd St. just off Astoria Boulevard. Engine Company 316 arrived first on the scene within four minutes and discovered two neighboring houses heavily involved in fire and immediately transmitted a second alarm at 2:58 p.m.
“I heard a loud explosion and then saw a ton of black smoke followed by lots of sirens,” a nearby resident said. “It was pretty scary.”
Hundreds of firefighters battled the fire, which took a dangerous turn when the wind changed direction and gained speed, trapping several members on the second floor.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
What began as a routine job for the firefighters suddenly turned treacherous as the wind suddenly changed direction and picked up speed. A third alarm was signaled at 3:07 p.m. after the flames extended to a detached garage
“The fire was in the rear of the building and rapidly extending toward the front, being pushed by the wind,” Chief of Department John Esposito said. “Soon after we started to operate—we had hoselines stretched and firefighters conducting searches in both buildings—there was a sudden change in conditions that trapped some of our members above the fire.”
The fire spread to a neighboring home before fire crews arrived on the scene.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
As thick black smoke emanated from the burning homes, which could be seen across much of the borough but did not impact ground operations at LaGuardia Airport less than a mile away, several firefighters became trapped on the second floor above the fire after a sudden collapse occurred. One firefighter deployed his Personal Safety System (PSS), which is an emergency escape rope firefighters are equipped with. Other members were able to evacuate from the second floor via portable ladders set up by members of the Firefighter Assist Search Team.
A fourth alarm was transmitted bringing a total of 74 units and 231 firefighters and EMS to the scene along Astoria Boulevard and 93rd Street to 30th Avenue.
Astoria Boulevard was closed to traffic while the fire escalated to a fourth alarm.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
“There are certain situations when the bravery of the FDNY are on full display, generally at every fire, but there are particular fires that really kind of bring it home. And today, that was one of those fires,” Bonsignore said. “Thankfully, everybody got out. When [the] fire departments is on the scene, they are here to save lives, but sometimes they have no choice but to save their own lives, and that’s what happened today.”
A total of fourteen firefighters were injured, one seriously, and transported to area hospitals. Two residents were injured but refused medical attention at the scene.
The fire was placed under control at about 5:15 p.m. The cause remains under investigation by FDNY fire marshals.
Inspectors from the city’s Department of Buildings were called to the scene for a structural stability inspection and they found extensive fire damage, including an open roof and open rear wall, with damage spread to neighboring properties. DOB issued full vacate orders at
26-26 93rd St. and the detached garage, and at 26-28 93rd St. Some fire damage was also observed at 26-24 93rd St, but no vacate order was issued for that property. National Grid shut services to 26-26 and 26-28 93rd St.
The American Red Cross registered three households, including seven adults and three children, for emergency services, including financial aid and temporary housing.