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An apartment fire in Queens, NYC, injured 16 firefighters on April 6, 2021. Photo: NYFD
14 Apr 2021

16 firefighters injured in New York apartment fire

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A NYFD firefighter breaking a window inside the Queens apartment building.
A NYFD firefighter breaking a window inside the Queens apartment building.

An apartment fire in Queens, New York, injured 21 people, including 16 firefighters, and displaced hundreds of residents on Tuesday of last week. 

About 400 firefighters responded to the fire that started Tuesday afternoon, April 6, on the top floor of a six-story building, as reported by WABC-TV. 

Two of the injured firefighters had burns, but reportedly they were not life-threatening injuries. One resident was taken to a hospital.

About 240 residents had to find other housing. 

The New York City Fire Department said that a door had been left open, which helped spread the fire. The reason for the fire was unknown.

 

Firefighters outside of the Queens building.

 

The New York City Fire Department wrote on their Facebook page: 

“This is a very wide and deep building. The fire spread rapidly through the cockloft and consumed one side of the building. This building houses about 150 apartments, right now we have 90 families displaced, which is about 240 civilians. This is a very complicated and prolonged operation. Heavy smoke and heavy heat conditions. This is a significant fire. We have over 350 Fire and EMS personnel on scene. This fire is still not under control, we will be here through the night. Thankfully, we have no serious, life-threatening injuries. We’re up to 21 patients, that includes 16 Firefighters that have been transported to area hospitals. We are operating now a total exterior operation with four tower ladders,” says FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Michael Gala from the scene of an 8-alarm fire at 89-07 34th Avenue in Queens.

Firefighters entering the Queens building.

Photos by NYFD