Fire Destroys 14 Businesses In Kew Gardens Hills, Queens
Source: newyork.cbslocal.com
Fire Destroys 14 Businesses In Kew Gardens Hills, Queens
December 30, 2016 11:59 PM
Filed Under: Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, Queens Fire, Vleigh Place
UPDATED 12/31/16 12:08 a.m.
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — An extra-alarm fire broke out on a commercial block in Queens Friday evening and went on to leave 14 businesses in ruin. The FDNY said the fire was reported at 6:24 p.m. at 77-49 Vleigh Pl., at 77th Road, in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens. The fire was raised to a fourth alarm shortly afterward, and to a fifth alarm around 9:14 p.m.
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Several times, it appeared that firefighters were getting the upper hand, only for huge flames to appear again. It took until after midnight Saturday morning for the fire to be brought under control.
A total of 175 firefighters responded to the scene with 40 units, according to FDNY Chief James Leonard. Multiple firefighters suffered injuries while fighting the blaze. One fainted for unknown reasons, another had a sprain, and at least one was treated for smoke inhalation, Leonard said.
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In total, a strip of 14 businesses are a total loss, Leonard said. The businesses that were destroyed included a law office, a pizza shop, a dry cleaners, and a kosher bakery and restaurant. “That’s the real shame of it — here we are, a holiday weekend, and 14 people lose their businesses,” Leonard said.
Heavy fire was raging in the cockloft – the area between the ceilings and the roof that is shared by all the buildings on the strip, Leonard said. The fire being in the cockloft made it extremely difficult to put out, Leonard said. “We were on the scene within three minutes,” Leonard said. “Once the fire gets in to these concealed spaces up above – above the roof — it’s almost impossible for us to put it out.”
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Read more: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/12/30/queens-fire/
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