Queens Fire in New York Claims One Life and Injures 22
In the morning of July 25th, a severe residential fire broke out in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, quickly spreading to neighboring buildings and escalating to a fifth alarm. As of now, a 78-year-old Chinese woman has tragically lost her life, with at least 22 others injured, including several firefighters. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
According to the New York City Fire Department, the fire started around 9:50 a.m. in a two-story residential building on 41st Road near College Point Blvd. The fire originated on the first floor and rapidly spread to two adjacent buildings, causing thick smoke and towering flames at the scene.
Due to the intense blaze, approximately 270 firefighters and emergency personnel were deployed to the scene to extinguish the fire. After hours of relentless effort, the firefighters managed to bring the fire under control around 1 p.m.
The New York City Police Department reported that a 78-year-old Chinese woman was rescued and transported to New York Presbyterian Hospital Queens, where she unfortunately succumbed to her injuries. The identity of the deceased has not been disclosed by the authorities.
Officials have confirmed that in addition to the fatality, at least 22 individuals sustained injuries. One civilian is in critical condition, another civilian suffered minor injuries, and the remaining injuries were among firefighters and emergency personnel. The fire department reassured that the injuries to firefighters are not life-threatening.
Currently, the New York City Fire Department Fire Marshals have taken over the investigation into the cause of the fire, while the exact circumstances leading to the incident remain subject to further investigation.