The New York City Fire Department has launched an investigation into a five-alarm fire that ravaged a series of Jewish businesses in Williamsburg on Sunday afternoon.
Over 200 dedicated crew members promptly responded to the emergency; thick smoke could be discerned from a considerable distance, even from vantage points atop the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The FDNY reported that ten firefighters sustained injuries, Thankfully, their conditions remained stable, although one firefighter necessitated treatment to counteract the effects of carbon monoxide exposure. The department has assured that he is on the path to recovery.
Miraculously, no one was inside the businesses at the time of the fire since they were closed. However, this posed an additional challenge for the firefighting teams, as they had to forcibly remove the rolled-down gates of the storefronts in order to access the heart of the five-alarm blaze. FDNY Chief of Department, John Hodgens, elucidated the arduousness of the operation. “The operation is such that we have to force our way into every store, nine stores. They have rolled down gates. We have to stretch a hose through each store. So it takes a lot of staffing, a lot of work, a lot of hard work. It’s not an easy task. Other members have to go in and search and make sure there’s no victims,” Hodgens explained.
At least nine businesses suffered the brunt of the flames and heavy smoke. Among the businesses affected were a bargain store, a restaurant, and a shoe store. CBS New York spoke to one particularly distraught business owner who had run her establishment for 47 years. Through tears, she expressed gratitude that she and her family were safe.
FDNY members are currently operating at a 3-alarm fire at 106 Lee Avenue in Brooklyn. Use caution in the area. pic.twitter.com/IvGu1s8cd1
— FDNY (@FDNY) August 20, 2023
FDNY units are continuing to operate at 106 Lee Avenue in Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/XKvuzpdG0j
— FDNY (@FDNY) August 20, 2023
