Trending Topics

Videos: 5 firefighters injured in 5-alarm NYC blaze

One firefighter was injured by a falling air conditioner during the Queens fire

NEW YORK — Six people were injured, including five firefighters, after a fast-moving overnight fire tore through a two-story home in Queens, displacing residents and sending debris into the street, authorities said.

The FDNY said companies were dispatched at 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 6 to a reported first-floor fire on Madison Street between Seneca and Onderdonk avenues in the Ridgewood neighborhood, NBC New York reported.

One firefighter was hospitalized after an air conditioner fell from a window and struck him at the scene. He was transported to a hospital and is expected to recover.

Officials said the remaining firefighter injuries were minor, as was the injury to a civilian.

The fire extended up the shaft and through the roof of the three-story building, then spread to three neighboring buildings, ABC 7 reported. Thirty families were displaced, and all four affected buildings will receive vacate orders from the city’s Office of Emergency Management.

Trending
A public feud in Clinton Township is raising questions about EMS response models, as officials push for more EMT-based responses while firefighters warn reducing paramedic staffing could cut advanced care
The report urges departments to match tactics to conditions, identify isolation points, reinforce survival training and strengthen command, communication and risk management on the fireground
Vice President JD Vance used the IAFF’s Alfred K. Whitehead Legislative Conference to highlight White House backing for firefighter legislation, including Social Security reform, grant funding and toxic exposure protections
Danbury Fire Department’s new progressive alerting system gradually increases alarm volume and uses voice announcements, part of a growing effort to reduce firefighter stress
Company News
First Due earned a spot on the 2026 GovTech 100 for the second consecutive year, recognizing its AI-powered, all-in-one platform supporting fire and EMS operations

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.