A five-alarm fire tore through a private home and into two adjoining buildings in Flushing, Queens Saturday morning, injuring almost two dozen people — most of them firefighters — and displacing residents, according to the FDNY.
Firefighters were called to 132-15 41st Road, between College Point Boulevard and Frame Place just before 10 a.m. when flames broke out on the first floor of a two-story, woodframe home, according to the FDNY. The fire grew quickly, reaching five-alarm status by noon, the department said. Firefighting operations were ongoing as of 3 p.m.
“Fire travels very, very rapidly, very difficult for us to get ahead of these fires and extinguish,” FDNY Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods said.
Crews rescued one occupant trapped inside the home, and first responders transported the person to a local hospital in serious condition.
Fire department officials said 23 people were injured by the flames, including one other resident and 21 firefighters who were also transported to area hospitals.
By mid-afternoon, 84 units and 270 fire and emergency medical personnel were at the scene.
Woods said the blaze did heavy damage to two of the adjoining homes connected to the burning building, which was built in 1930. About one dozen residents are displaced as a result.
Officials have not determined a cause of the blaze.
This is a breaking news story and may be updated.
