An early morning fire in the Woodhaven section of Queens left one person with serious injuries and over 20 residents without a home yesterday. The flames erupted inside a residential building at 86-06 91st Avenue shortly after 8 a.m., as reported by ABC7 New York. The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) has yet to reveal the cause of the fire; however, a lithium-ion battery, which poses notorious risks, and an e-bike were recovered from the site.
The injured individual was promptly transported to Jamaica Hospital for treatment, where the condition of the victim remains undisclosed. Firefighting units, including members of Engine Company 293 and Ladder Company 143, faced substantial smoke and flames emanating from the building's second-floor windows upon their arrival. According to coverage by QNS, their firehouse is located a mere four blocks away from the affected structure.
Efforts to subdue the blaze, which required more than 100 firefighting personnel and three hose lines, brought the fire under control around 9:50 a.m. Searching the premises was challenged due to debris, but no additional victims were found inside the damaged structure. Hazmat teams were also dispatched to the scene as part of standard protocol concerning instances where lithium-ion batteries are involved.
The fire not only injured one but also left 16 adults, five children, and several pets with nowhere to return. The American Red Cross was on the ground providing much-needed assistance to those displaced by the fire. In the wake of such incidents, the community often relies on the swiftness and the compassion of such organizations to mitigate the immediate hardships that follow unexpected disasters like this one.
