Earlier today, a significant fire engulfed a building in Jamaica, Queens, causing injuries to five firefighters who were striving to contain the blaze. As reported by ABC7NY, the fire erupted at approximately 6:15 a.m. on Sutphin Boulevard, situated between 114th Road and 115th Avenue. The incident summoned nearly 170 firefighters and EMS personnel to the scene.
The FDNY faced the daunting task of quelling the flames that were reported on the first floor of the building. Amid their efforts, three firefighters sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, while two others suffered minor injuries. They all received medical attention at Jamaica Hospital, in a statement obtained by ABC7NY. The fire was successfully put under control shortly after 8 a.m., with crews later spotted scanning for any remaining hot spots.
Businesses located on the lower level of the affected building were enveloped by heavy smoke, a situation that was captured via video by CBS News. One employee described the alarming situation to ABC7NY in their interview, recalling how she detected the smell of fumes and smoke upon arriving for work. "When I came outside, I see smoke out of the building, and I came out and then I rushed to my building upstairs, wake up my daughter and we headed out and then we called the fire truck," she said.
While the team of firefighters worked diligently to bring the fire under control, the investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing. Information on potential property loss or further damage has yet to be disclosed. Authorities and responders at the scene continue to assess the aftermath of what was a perilous and challenging emergency operation in the heart of Jamaica, Queens.
