Three people have been injured in a devastating five-alarm fire that ripped through a residential building in the Bronx early Monday morning. The blaze, which broke out at Findlay Avenue and East 170th Street in Claremont around 3:20 a.m., sent more than 250 firefighters and emergency responders rushing to the scene.
The FDNY reported that two firefighters were among those injured, as well as a civilian. According to officials, their injuries are minor but highlight the dangers of such emergencies. The blaze itself was intense enough to force the evacuation of the building without any loss of life.
According to FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito, the response was complicated by cars parked on nearby hydrants blocking access for firefighters. "We had three cars parked on three different fire hydrants, which delayed our operation," he stated. The ice conditions in the area did pose an additional challenge, but Esposito emphasized that the blocked hydrants were the most significant issue.
Those responsible for parking their vehicles on the hydrants are facing penalties, with officials vowing to issue tickets and have them towed away. The incident has sparked calls for increased vigilance among drivers in the community.
Fire officials reported that the fire was brought under control by 7:15 a.m., and fire marshals are currently investigating the cause of the blaze. Residents and commuters in the area were warned to expect heavy smoke, street closures, and significant traffic delays. The city's Emergency Management agency tweeted an update, urging people to avoid the area if possible and close their windows if they live nearby.
As the investigation into the fire continues, the FDNY and NYPD will remain on the scene overnight. The Department of Buildings has issued a full vacate order for the building, while the Department of Environmental Protection is conducting asbestos testing on site.
The FDNY reported that two firefighters were among those injured, as well as a civilian. According to officials, their injuries are minor but highlight the dangers of such emergencies. The blaze itself was intense enough to force the evacuation of the building without any loss of life.
According to FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito, the response was complicated by cars parked on nearby hydrants blocking access for firefighters. "We had three cars parked on three different fire hydrants, which delayed our operation," he stated. The ice conditions in the area did pose an additional challenge, but Esposito emphasized that the blocked hydrants were the most significant issue.
Those responsible for parking their vehicles on the hydrants are facing penalties, with officials vowing to issue tickets and have them towed away. The incident has sparked calls for increased vigilance among drivers in the community.
Fire officials reported that the fire was brought under control by 7:15 a.m., and fire marshals are currently investigating the cause of the blaze. Residents and commuters in the area were warned to expect heavy smoke, street closures, and significant traffic delays. The city's Emergency Management agency tweeted an update, urging people to avoid the area if possible and close their windows if they live nearby.
As the investigation into the fire continues, the FDNY and NYPD will remain on the scene overnight. The Department of Buildings has issued a full vacate order for the building, while the Department of Environmental Protection is conducting asbestos testing on site.
just heard about this crazy fire in the Bronx and I'm still trying to process it - 5-alarm blaze that injured like 3 people & had to evacuate an entire bldg?!?! 
but what really got me was when they said ppl were parked on hydrants blocking the way for firefighters... like, seriously? 
who does that?!?! anyway, glad no one lost their lives tho 
and I hope those responsible for parking on the hydrants get slammed with fines 
can't believe it took 3 cars to block an entire fire hydrant though... what's next?!?! 
& cars parked on hydrants delaying firefighters 
. i hope they get caught and fined for being so reckless. anyway the FDNY and NYPD are doing their thing and making sure everyone is safe. fingers crossed the investigation finds out what happened and we can move forward without any more drama 
Those drivers gotta own up to their mistakes. And the whole city's affected by it too, with all the smoke and stuff... 
I'm glad no one was seriously hurt though, that's what matters most 
. Can't wait to see who gets fined and whose cars get towed away 
This whole thing's just crazy! A five-alarm fire that leaves three people injured? That's devastating. And to make matters worse, cars parked on fire hydrants blocking access to firefighters? Unbelievable. 
. And of course, it's not like anyone expected drivers to use their common sense and park cars away from fire hydrants 
.
it's like they don't know fire trucks need those to put out fires quickly! 250 firefighters had to deal with that? so stressful for everyone involved 
. I've lived in NYC for years and it's crazy how these things can happen anywhere, right? Parking cars on hydrants is just insane 
. I mean, who does that?! The FDNY did an amazing job responding to the situation though 
. It's good to hear they're taking action against people who park their vehicles in a way that hinders emergency responders. Fingers crossed the investigation finds out what caused the fire and makes sure something like this never happens again 
.
. now let's just hope whoever parked on those hydrants gets a good dose of fines 
... I mean, can you imagine being in that building when it caught fire? The thought of not knowing what happened until the police and firefighters showed up makes my blood pressure rise 
... and to make matters worse, people parked their cars on the hydrants blocking access for the responders. What were they thinking?! 
It's just common sense to move your car when you see emergency vehicles coming 