A fierce fire obliterated a residential building in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, on Wednesday afternoon, with flames and smoke visible from blocks away. According to ABC7NY, the fire started at 922 Lafayette Ave. just after 1:30 p.m. and left the structure in ruins. The blaze not only ravaged the premises where it began but also inflicted damage on the surrounding buildings.
The New York City Fire Department struggled with perilously high flames engulfing all three floors of the initial building, rendering it unsalvageable. The proximity of the inferno to Mayor Eric Adams' domicile, merely a block away, underscores the unpredictability of urban calamities. "I'm trying not to keep crying in front of my kids, but we lost everything," Star, a local resident, recounted to ABC7NY. The FDNY cited debris and clutter at the front of the building as additional obstacles they encountered. Due to the intensity of the fire, neighboring homes also sustained varying degrees of damage.
CBS News New York reported that three firefighters sustained minor injuries while combating the blaze. The effort to control and eventually quench the flames was arduous, with the firefighters remaining on scene well after the worst had been contained to address residual hotspots. Details on the cause of the fire are still forthcoming, as investigations continue.
The Red Cross stepped in to offer support to residents affected by the conflagration. Among the victims were Star Payne, who expressed her despair to CBS News New York as she faced the loss of her home and her daughter's significant milestones, including high school graduation, now marred by the disaster. Meanwhile, roommates Laraugh Lobel and Noelle Diaz recalled the onslaught of the smoke and their desperate efforts to warn others. The community's resilience was further evidenced by one individual's relief upon rescuing a pet from the aftermath.
In the wake of the incident, certain streets were cordoned off, including Lewis Avenue from Greene Avenue to DeKalb Avenue and Lafayette Avenue from Marcus Garvey Boulevard to Stuyvesant Avenue, as reported by ABC7NY. This disruption will likely persist as officials carry out their investigations and continue to assess the structural and personal impact of the blaze. Fire marshals are actively working to determine the cause of the fire, with reports of someone possibly fleeing the scene still unconfirmed.
