FDNY Firefighter in Critical Condition Following Cardiac Arrest During Brooklyn Blaze

A firefighter from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) is currently in critical condition after experiencing a cardiac arrest while fighting a blaze in Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood, city officials reported. The fire broke out around 11:30 a.m. yesterday at a house on Lafayette Avenue, engendering a massive response from over 100 first responders, according to The New York Post.

The firefighter, who has yet to be named, was attended to by medical personnel on the scene before being transported to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center. Confirming his critical state, Mayor Eric Adams and FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker shared in a statement obtained by Gothamist that the firefighter later underwent a transfer to Lenox Hill Hospital for further treatment. The family of the firefighter has not been notified, which delays the release of his identity, officials say.

The fire, which resulted in a two-alarm call, injured two other firefighters and two civilians who suffered minor injuries. The FDNY managed to bring the fire under control within approximately two hours of their arrival. Seven residents were also displaced by the fire, The New York Post reports.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated. The federation of heat, smoke, and embers that is a fire did not render its origin readily apparent to the authorities. The fire spread through multiple floors and affected the cockloft of the four-story building, challenging the efforts of firefighters who responded to the scene, according to The New York Post. The FDNY's investigation into this incident is ongoing as they work to determine the precise cause of the blaze.