Queens Fire Casualties
Five-Alarm Queens Fire Injures Up to 21, Spreads to Multiple Buildings
Anonymous
Key Points
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Initial call and spread: The fire began on the first floor of a home at 132-15 41st Road in Flushing (between College Point Boulevard and Frame Place) and quickly spread to at least two connected buildings; the FDNY received the call around 9:52 a.m., with the fifth alarm declared by 11:57 a.m.
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Responder count: A large force was deployed, with about 270 FDNY fire and EMS personnel at the scene and 84 units involved in the response.
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Injury distribution details vary by outlet: Newsday reported 21 total injuries (19 firefighters and 2 civilians; one civilian critically injured, the other minor), while CBS News reported at least 12 injuries (8 firefighters, 2 EMTs, 2 civilians).
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Stabilization timeline: After rising to five alarms, the blaze was stabilized around 1:10 p.m., with operations continuing into the afternoon.
A five-alarm fire tore through a home in Flushing, Queens on Tuesday morning, injuring at least 21 people and spreading to multiple neighboring buildings. The FDNY deployed about 270 firefighters and EMS personnel — 84 units in total — to battle the blaze on 41st Road near College Point Boulevard, according to NBC New York and Newsday.
The fire started on the first floor of a two-story wood-frame home at 132-15 41st Road around 9:52 a.m. It quickly jumped to at least two connected buildings. By 11:57 a.m., the FDNY had declared a fifth alarm. The blaze was stabilized around 1:10 p.m., Gothamist reported.
Fire Spreads from One Home to Entire Block
The blaze began on the first floor of a wood-frame house in Flushing before spreading to adjacent buildings, Gothamist reported. Heavy smoke blanketed the neighborhood. Residents were urged to stay indoors and keep windows closed. Traffic in the area was also disrupted as dozens of fire trucks blocked surrounding streets.
The spread of the fire from one home to multiple structures is what drove officials to escalate the alarm level. Each new alarm brings more units and personnel to the scene. By the fifth alarm, 84 units were operating at the location, according to NBC New York.
21 People Hurt, Including 19 Firefighters
Newsday reported 21 total injuries: 19 firefighters and 2 civilians. One civilian was critically injured; the other had minor injuries. CBS News put the count lower, at 12 — including 8 firefighters, 2 EMTs, and 2 civilians. The discrepancy likely reflects different reporting times as the situation evolved.
At least one trapped resident was rescued from the burning structure, Gothamist reported. Firefighters faced heavy fire and thick smoke as they worked through the building. Several of the injured firefighters were taken to nearby hospitals, though the severity of their injuries was not immediately clear.
Timeline: From First Call to Stabilization
The FDNY received the first call at approximately 9:52 a.m. The fire grew fast. A fifth alarm was declared by 11:57 a.m. — less than two hours after the initial report. Crews worked through the morning and into the early afternoon to get the fire under control, according to Patch.
The blaze was stabilized around 1:10 p.m., but operations continued into the afternoon. The cause of the fire was not yet known. Authorities planned a press conference to provide updates. Fox 5 NY reported that officials were just beginning their investigation into what started the blaze.
Neighborhood Impact and What Comes Next
The fire caused heavy smoke across the Flushing neighborhood. Officials urged residents nearby to avoid the area and monitor official channels for road closure updates. The area around 41st Road between College Point Boulevard and Frame Place remained disrupted for hours, NBC New York reported.
The extent of structural damage to the affected buildings was not immediately known. At least the original two-story home was described as destroyed, according to Gothamist. Investigators were set to begin examining the scene once the fire was fully out. No cause had been identified as of early afternoon.
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