A two-alarm fire tore through a long-vacant two-story wood-frame house in Howard Beach on Saturday afternoon, injuring two firefighters and drawing more than 100 firefighters to the scene on Halloween. The blaze broke out at the home on 90th Street, with flames reaching the cellar and both floors before crews could get it under control.
According to amNewYork, Engine Company 331 and Ladder Company 173 responded just after 5:15 p.m. to the two-story wood-frame home at 162-28 90th St. Firefighters encountered heavy flames in the cellar and on the first and second floors, prompting a second alarm because the building had sat vacant. More than 100 firefighters ultimately responded to the scene.
Neighbor Sarah O Brein said she was about to take her kids trick-or-treating when they noticed smoke pouring out of the house. She said firefighters arrived and started working quickly once they got there, according to the same account.
Crews Knock Down Flames, Find No One Inside
Firefighters operated four hoselines to knock down the main body of the fire, the outlet reported. Searches of the building found no occupants, easing concerns about anyone trapped inside the vacant structure.
Two firefighters sustained injuries during the operation and were transported to local hospitals for evaluation. The cause of the fire has not been determined, and the FDNY Fire Marshal's Office continues to investigate.
Pattern of Firefighter Injuries in Queens
Saturday's fire adds to a string of recent Queens blazes that have left firefighters hurt. At least four firefighters were injured battling a house fire in Queens in September, according to Queens, NY Patch. In August, a fire that started in the basement of a South Ozone Park home spread to neighboring houses, per the FDNY account relayed by CBS New York.
Howard Beach itself has seen firefighters hurt responding to fires before. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries battling a blaze at a Howard Beach apartment building in November 2024, according to ABC7 New York, though it remains unclear whether that incident is connected to the same neighborhood pattern. Separately, PIX11 reported that a Bellerose house fire caused firefighters to scramble and evacuate at one point, injuring multiple FDNY members, according to officials.
For now, the exact cause of Saturday's Howard Beach fire remains undetermined as investigators work to piece together what sparked the blaze inside the empty home.
