Sirens cut through the early evening in Coney Island on Sunday, May 24, as a fourth-floor fire at a Surf Avenue apartment building left one person injured and sent a wall of emergency vehicles racing to the scene, according to on-scene reports. Neighbors shared video showing multiple fire engines and ambulances stacked along the block while crews attacked the flames from the street and the upper floors.
Crews Knocked Down Flames In About 30 Minutes
According to News 12 New York, the call for help came in just before 7 p.m., with fire reported on the fourth floor of 2007 Surf Ave. Video provided to the outlet from the Citizen app shows fire trucks and ambulances packed curb to curb as more than 100 fire and EMS personnel converged on the building.
Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control in roughly half an hour, even as a heavy response remained on Surf Avenue while crews checked for hot spots and made sure residents were safe.
A Building Marked By A Deadly Past Fire
The address carries a grim history. CBS New York documented a 2014 fire at the same Surf Avenue building that killed an NYPD officer and seriously injured another. Prosecutors said that earlier blaze started with a mattress fire in a hallway and ultimately led to a conviction in 2016, a case that still weighs heavily on many longtime residents.
Sunday's sizable response was a stark reminder of how fast a fire in a large residential complex can escalate, drawing multiple units within minutes when smoke and flames start to spread.
Cause Under Investigation, Residents Await Answers
Officials have not yet released details about the injured person's condition or what sparked Sunday's fire, according to News 12 New York. The FDNY and other city agencies are expected to investigate the origin and cause, with residents told to wait for official updates once that work is complete.
Neighbors said the swarm of engines and ambulances kept people on the sidewalks and out of the way until crews fully cleared the scene. This story will be updated as authorities release more information.
