A five-alarm blaze turned a lumber-packed warehouse in College Point into a towering inferno Friday night, sending thick black smoke across Queens and keeping firefighters on the scene into the early morning. Neighbors said an orange glow hung over the area for hours as crews fought to keep the fire from jumping to nearby properties.
How the Fire Started and Where
FDNY units were called to the scene around 7:30 p.m. after reports of an odor of smoke and arrived to find heavy fire ripping through a warehouse at 130-17 23rd Avenue in College Point. The building is subdivided for several businesses, including lumber and cabinetry operations, and crews shifted to an exterior attack after searches confirmed no occupants were inside, according to CBS New York.
What Firefighters Faced
Assistant Chief Michael Meyers said a lumber yard inside the structure helped fuel the flames and pushed the response to five alarms, which forced commanders to pull firefighters from interior operations. "At one point, we had eight tower ladders in operation completely surrounding the structure," Meyers said, and officials noted that no civilians or FDNY members were hurt as the massive operation continued, ABC7 New York reported.
Damage, Containment and Neighborhood Fallout
Officials said the building was essentially a total loss, but crews managed to box the fire in. One official told PIX11, "We limited the spread to one building." The blaze drew hundreds of firefighters and EMS personnel and sent smoke plumes visible for miles. That haze disrupted nearby commutes and prompted local notices to residents, per PIX11.
Why This Matters Now
The College Point fire comes amid a string of high-profile warehouse blazes in April that have renewed questions about industrial fire safety and security. Coverage of a suspected arson fire at a distribution center in Ontario, California has pushed national attention toward storage risks and worker-safety concerns, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Fire marshals have opened an investigation and city officials said the College Point blaze was under control by morning. No injuries were reported and residents were advised to close windows and limit outdoor activity, according to CBS New York. FDNY and city investigators are expected to continue combing through the scene and will release more information as it becomes available.
