Massive NYC blaze engulfs firefighters, sends one to hospital

A massive five-alarm fire has ravaged an apartment building in the Bronx on Sunday, resulting in injuries to five individuals, including a firefighter.

The blaze, which started on the top floor of a six-story building at 1420 Noble Ave. in Soundview at approximately 7 p.m., proved challenging for firefighters, who battled for nearly five hours to bring it under control, according to FDNY officials.

Upon receiving the call, firefighters arrived at the scene within four minutes and initiated efforts to extinguish the inferno from inside the building. However, the intensity of the flames caused a portion of the roof to collapse, necessitating a strategic shift to fighting the fire from outside the structure, revealed FDNY Chief of Operations John Esposito during a press conference at 10:30 p.m. He further explained that the fire surpassed their initial expectations, resulting in partial ceiling and roof collapses.

During the incident, four civilians and one firefighter sustained injuries. Medical attention was provided to the injured civilian and the firefighter, while the others received on-site treatment. Assistant Chief of EMS Fred Villani confirmed that all five individuals suffered minor injuries.

A total of 44 units, comprising nearly 200 firefighters, responded to the scene, successfully containing the fire to a specific section of the building. The crews eventually gained control over the situation around 11:30 p.m.

Due to the building’s height and size, it presented significant challenges for firefighters, as reaching the top floor with hose lines to extinguish the fire proved difficult and time-consuming. Chief Esposito acknowledged the fire’s rapid progression and the struggle to keep up with its intensity.

The fire originated in the cockloft, the space between the top floor ceiling and the roof’s underside, as per Esposito. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

All 79 units within the building were evacuated on Sunday night, resulting in an uncertain number of displaced residents. The Red Cross established a service center at the Bronx River Parkway Community Center to aid those affected by the fire, assisting them in finding temporary shelter for the night.