Firefighters work at the scene of an all hands fire at 4904 18th Ave. on Wednesday, May 20.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
Fire marshals are investigating the cause of an explosion in the basement of a one-story commercial building in Borough Park on Wednesday night. It was the second fire to strike the neighborhood in two days.
On Monday afternoon, firefighters rescued a resident from a first-floor fire at 4002 14th Ave. during a two-alarm blaze that broke out shortly after 12:45 p.m. The fire occurred in a mixed-use building, where firefighters arrived to find heavy flames on the first floor and thick smoke on the second floor.
On Wednesday night, firefighters from Battalion 40 arrived shortly after 7:30 p.m. to find heavy fire coming from the basement of the commercial building. One firefighter was injured after becoming trapped in the basement. The firefighter was removed by the Firefighters Assist Search Team and refused medical attention at the scene, paramedics said.
FDNY firefighters battle heavy smoke and flames pouring from the basement of a Borough Park commercial building Wednesday night.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
Nearby resident Michael Shinrim commended firefighters’ swift response.
“I was walking out of my house and I just saw smoke coming from the basement area and I began to hear sirens,” she said. “The firefighters were fast and efficient.”
About 70 firefighters from 21 units used three hose lines to bring the main body of fire under control. Firefighters conducted searches throughout the building, and no additional victims were found.
Emergency crews remained on scene for hours extinguishing hot spots and pulling ceilings after the fire was contained.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
Representatives from Con Edison quickly cut power to the building. As of 8:30 p.m., crews were still working to extinguish remaining fire and pull ceilings. The blaze was deemed under control at around 8:45 p.m.