16 FDNY FFs injured in 8-alarm apartment building blaze

By Laura French

NEW YORK — An eight-alarm blaze at a Queens apartment building injured 16 FDNY firefighters on Tuesday afternoon.

Officials said the blaze began as a four-alarm fire, starting on the top floor of the six-story structure, according to ABC 7.

“This is a very wide and deep building. The fire spread rapidly through the cockloft and consumed one side of the building,” FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Michael Gala said in a statement from the scene. “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.”

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Gala said more than 350 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene. A total of 21 people were injured, including 16 firefighters.

“Thankfully, we have no serious, life-threatening injuries,” Gala stated.

FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said three of the injured firefighters suffered burns, according to ABC 7. Nigro said the door to the apartment where the fire is believed to have started was left open.

The Red Cross and Salvation Army are assisting the hundreds of displaced residents.