1 Dead Nearly 2 Dozen Hurt in Major Flushing Fire
Wertynews.com – One person has died and nearly two dozen people were injured when a devastating fire tore through Flushing, Queens, on Saturday morning. The tragic incident, which officials are still investigating, resulted in the loss of a 78-year-old woman and left many others with injuries ranging from minor to serious. The fire, which quickly escalated to a five-alarm blaze, spread across three buildings in a residential row, causing significant damage to the neighborhood.
Fire Spreads Rapidly Through Wood-Frame Buildings
The fire was first reported just before 10 a.m. on 41st Road near College Point Boulevard. According to Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods, the blaze began on the first floor of a two-story, wood-frame home that was part of a row of five connected buildings. When emergency crews arrived on the scene, they found two buildings fully engulfed in flames, with fire already spreading to a third structure.
“These buildings in this row of five, they were built in 1930, so they’re all wood. Wood-frame buildings,” Woods explained to reporters. “The walls are wood, the floors are wood, the roof is also made of wood, so fire travels very, very rapidly. Very difficult for us to get ahead of these fires and extinguish.”
“The walls are wood, the floors are wood, the roof is also made of wood, so fire travels very, very rapidly.”
— Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods
The wooden construction of these historic buildings contributed to the fire’s rapid spread, making it challenging for firefighters to contain the blaze. The combination of wood walls, floors, and roof created a perfect environment for flames to move quickly from one building to another.
Rescue Operations and Casualties
During the emergency response, at least one resident was trapped inside the building where the fire originated and had to be rescued from the second floor. The FDNY deployed over 250 firefighters and EMS personnel to combat the five-alarm fire, which has since been brought under control. Woods noted that the FDNY would remain on the scene “for quite some time” to monitor for any hotspots that could reignite.
The 78-year-old woman who lost her life was living in one of the affected homes. Her name has not yet been released by authorities. In addition to her death, officials reported that a second resident suffered minor injuries. The incident also took a toll on emergency responders, with at least 21 FDNY members transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, including heat exhaustion, smoke inhalation, and minor sprains and strains.
Displaced Families and Ongoing Investigation
The cause of the fire remains unknown as investigators continue their work. The buildings suffered heavy damage, and multiple families have been displaced from their homes. Among those affected was a couple who spoke to CBS News New York in Chinese, expressing gratitude for escaping one of the fire-ravaged homes. However, they had to leave behind important documents, including passports and other valuables they had worked hard to accumulate since moving to the United States.
The Red Cross was present at the scene to provide assistance to those impacted by the tragedy. As the community comes together to support the affected families, officials continue to work on determining what caused the fire that claimed one life and injured nearly two dozen people. The incident serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of older wood-frame buildings and the importance of fire safety in residential areas.
