FDNY Eight Alarm Fire in Queens Commercial Building with Collapse
By Christopher J. Naum, SFPE on Jan 18, 2011 with Comments 0
Stein for News Photo; More than 250 firefighters were needed to battle a 7-alarm blaze in Queens - the temperature was so cold that they had to work in rotations.
Four firefighters were injured Monday night when the ceiling of a burning Queens metal factory collapsed on them, officials said. The one story commerical building 60′ x 100′ with exposures was Queens Box 2211.
The powerful blaze broke out about 6 p.m. at J&S Ornamental Ironworks on 95-20 150th St. near 97th Ave. in Jamaica, Queens (NYC) escalated to an eight-alarm response before the night was through.
Officials said no one was inside the factory when the fire started.
Three firefighters were taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell with minor injuries, including one with facial burns, officials said.
Another firefighter was taken to Jamaica Hospital with a back injury.
The building is filled with hazardous materials, causing the fire to grow rapidly overnight.
Fire officials say insulation and melting tar may also have fed the flames, which spread to an adjacent building.
Firefighters were pulled from the building when it became too dangerous to fight the flames from inside.
The building was also too deep for hoses to reach all the burning spots, according to fire officials.
“There’s no life hazard other than our own, so we’re not going to risk anybody’s life to try to put this out from the inside,” said New York City Fire Department Deputy Assistant Chief James Sudnik.
“The ceiling collapsed on them,” said FDNY Deputy Chief Gregory Rup. “They got burned.”
After the collapse, firefighters were unable to get to the back of the factory, where the fire continued to rage late last night.
More than 250 firefighters were battling the blaze.
Queens Fire Burns For Hours: MyFoxNY.com
Queens Fire Burns For Hours: MyFoxNY.com
Photos: BTFIREPhotos HERE (All Rights Reserved)
Filed Under: BuildingsonFire • Combat Fire Engagement
