A three-alarm blaze broke out Thursday near the intersection of Briggs Avenue and East 195th Street in the Bronx, sending a thick plume of smoke drifting across nearby blocks and pulling a large FDNY response into the area. The scene snarled traffic around the intersection and left neighbors looking on as crews worked to get the flames under control.
According to FDNY, the incident was classified as a three-alarm fire at Briggs Avenue and East 195th Street. The notice urged people nearby to avoid the smoke, keep windows closed and be prepared for traffic delays as firefighters continued to operate at the scene. NotifyNYC also pushed out the alert on social channels while crews remained on site.
What "three‑alarm" means
The alarm level is firefighter shorthand for how big a response is rolling to the scene, not a precise measure of how hot or fast the fire is burning. As the Columbus Division of Fire explains, a second or third alarm simply means the incident commander has called for more crews and equipment to bring the blaze under control.
Nearby fire history
Briggs Avenue has already seen major fire activity this year. On March 27, a blaze at the Engine 79 firehouse on Briggs Avenue injured 14 firefighters and required dozens of units to respond. Coverage in Norwood News underscored how quickly fires on Briggs can escalate and disrupt neighborhood services, including temporary relocations of fire companies.
How to stay safe
If you smell smoke or see visible plumes, public-health guidance recommends staying indoors with windows and doors closed, running air conditioning on recirculate if possible, and limiting outdoor activity. The EPA's wildfire guidance outlines steps to reduce smoke exposure, and AirNow provides real-time AQI updates for residents keeping an eye on air quality conditions.
Hoodline will update this story as FDNY and city agencies release more information. For immediate emergencies call 911; for non-emergency information call 311 or follow official FDNY and NotifyNYC notices on social channels.
