Trending Topics

FDNY firefighter trapped, burned in collapse during bakery fire

FDNY crews battled heavy fire, a partial collapse and nearly nine hours of operations during a five-alarm matzo factory fire in Brooklyn

NEW YORK — A five-alarm fire destroyed a Brooklyn matzo factory and injured four people, including a firefighter.

The blaze broke out just before 2 a.m. on Dec. 17 near 36th Street and 13th Avenue in the Kensington neighborhood. Officials said the fire started near the bakery ovens and spread quickly, igniting stacked boxes of matzo and the product inside, WABC reported.

| MORE: RIT training: Focus on simplicity and speed over complexity and gadgets

FDNY Assistant Chief Mike Woods said firefighters encountered heavy fire conditions in the rear of the bakery.

Firefighters worked through heavy smoke to reach the roof of the bakery, and a firefighter was briefly trapped after a rear wall partially collapsed.

“There was a collapse of the rear portion. It trapped one of our members, but we were quickly able to extricate that member from the scene,” Woods said. “He did suffer some serious injuries, and he went to a local hospital with burns to his hands and also some potential respiratory burns. Last report is that member is now stable.”

Officials said three civilians, including a 2-year-old, were treated for smoke inhalation, and firefighters battled the five-alarm blaze for nearly nine hours.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Trending
Tune in for a video recap of our readers’ most viewed news articles
Collapse during RIT operations highlights the need for improved pre-incident planning and collapse zone awareness at vacant structures
Over 200 FDNY firefighters battled high winds and burning debris to knock down a massive warehouse fire in Brooklyn, which damaged 10 bays before being brought under
Public backlash and political pressure led the city’s workers’ comp provider to reverse course and approve care for a Fort Worth firefighter severely injured in a collapse
Company News
Program provides departments with the funding to address the risks of diesel exhaust and airborne contaminants

Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.