In the afternoon of Tuesday, April 23, several independent residential buildings in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York were engulfed in a large fire, resulting in injuries to 7 firefighters. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
According to the New York City Fire Department and Citizen app, the fire broke out initially at 2025 71st Street in Bensonhurst around 1 p.m. A total of 170 firefighters were dispatched to the scene to extinguish the blaze. The fire quickly engulfed the building and began spreading to nearby houses.
Footage from the scene showed one house already charred black and smoke rising from adjacent buildings. The Department of Buildings stated that the fire had caused severe damage to four structures, including missing rooftops and destroyed doors and windows. Inspectors determined that the condition of these buildings posed a safety hazard for residents, leading to the issuance of vacate orders.
It was not until around 3 p.m. that the blaze was brought under control. Seven firefighters sustained minor injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Additionally, one resident suffered minor injuries in the incident.