Five Firefighters Injured in NYC Warehouse Fire
Five firefighters sustained injuries while battling a blaze at a New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) warehouse on Monday night. The incident occurred on Labor Day at approximately 10 p.m., as reported by multiple sources. FDNY Assistant Chief Joseph Ferrante provided details during a Tuesday news conference, revealing that the fire had engulfed the roof of the Queens-based building.
In response to the emergency, around 200 firefighters and emergency medical services personnel rushed to the scene to combat the fire. The challenging situation persisted until just after 2 a.m. on Tuesday when authorities finally reported the flames under control.
It’s worth noting that the warehouse contained high-pressure tanks, diesel fuel, kerosene, gasoline, and welding tanks for DOT crews. However, Ferrante clarified that the fire was confined to the roof, sparing the contents inside.
Fortunately, no civilians or DOT employees suffered injuries in the incident. Nonetheless, five firefighters sustained “non-life threatening injuries” due to the strenuous work conditions.
Fire marshals initiated an investigation on Tuesday morning to determine the cause of the fire. Meanwhile, emergency crews remained on site to ensure that no additional hot spots would emerge.
The affected structure is described as a maintenance garage used by the DOT to store and service some of their vehicles.