A devastating fire swept through a Queens neighborhood on Saturday, injuring 11 firefighters and three civilians, and leaving multiple homes and vehicles in ruins.
The blaze began at a two-story residence on Francis Lewis Boulevard just before 4:00 p.m. and quickly spread to seven buildings, fueled by strong winds and propane tanks. FDNY officials said it took over 200 firefighters and nearly two hours to bring the fire under control.
FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer described the fire as “very fierce” and said it spread rapidly to adjacent buildings and garages. “It was a challenging fire to fight, but our teams worked tirelessly to contain it,” he said.
Of the 14 people reported injured, 11 were firefighters who suffered minor injuries while battling the blaze. Three civilians were also treated for minor injuries. FDNY EMS Deputy Assistant Chief Grace Cacciola said that all of the injured were expected to make a full recovery.
The fire has left seven households, comprising 10 children and 22 adults, without a home. The Red Cross is providing emergency lodging and financial assistance to those affected. At least three vehicles parked nearby were also destroyed in the fire, with witnesses describing them as “charred to a crisp.”
A 17-year-old resident, Tasmim Abib, said that the fire originated from explosions on his neighbor’s deck before spreading to his family’s home. Abib and his parents escaped the blaze unharmed, but he was unable to save his pets. “I was crying, ‘Let me go inside and save my cats,'” he recalled. “But my parents said, ‘No, don’t go back inside.'”
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but FDNY officials believe that propane tanks may have played a role in the explosions and subsequent flames.
