A fire that tore through a block of homes in Queens Village Saturday afternoon injured 14 – including 11 firefighters.
Firefighters were called to the block on Francis Lewis Blvd between Hillside Ave. and 89th Ave. shortly after 4 p.m. to fight the five-alarm blaze that devastated seven two-story brick homes, officials said.
“The fire department responded within two minutes, but this was a very fierce fire,” said FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer.
Officials said they were looking at some propane cylinders in the rear alley of the buildings that leaked, and may have accelerated the fire.
“We’re not going to speculate but there were some propane cylinders in the rear that the fire extended to,” Esposito said. “Our Hazmat companies were on the scene to mitigate the propane. That would accelerate the fire.”
More than 200 firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics responded to the scene, Pfeifer said.
Eleven of the fourteen injured were firefighters and all injuries were minor, officials said. But the extreme heat of the day made for a difficult two-hour operation to bring the fire under control..
“ It was a very difficult firefight and very warm today, very humid. It takes a toll on our firefighters,” FDNY Acting Department Chief John Esposito said. “It was a very dangerous operation on a very hot day today and I’m very, very proud of the great work our firefighters did.”
Fire marshals were still investigating the source of the fire as of late Saturday night, but said no foul play was suspected.
FDNY
Firefighters were called to a private house on Francis Lewis Blvd just after 4 p.m.. to put out the five-alarm blaze that tore through seven buildings.
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