5 Firefighters Injured in Massive Ridgewood, Queens Apartment Fire

Massive Fire Displaces Queens Residents

• 🚒 A five-alarm fire broke out early Tuesday morning on Madison Street in Ridgewood, Queens, displacing dozens of families.
• 🏠 Full vacate orders have been placed on four buildings following the blaze, which started on the first floor of a multi-family home.
• 🥶 Families were forced to evacuate into the cold with little time to grab personal belongings.

Injuries and Response Efforts

• 🏥 Six people were injured, including five firefighters and one resident; all are expected to survive.
• 👨‍🚒 Approximately 270 firefighters, EMS workers, and paramedics responded to the scene, battling fierce flames that at one point caused the roof to collapse.
• ✅ Officials expressed gratitude for the firefighters' work in preventing any loss of life despite the scale of the fire.

Community Support and Aftermath

• 🏠 The Red Cross has provided assistance to over 30 displaced residents, offering blankets, food, and temporary housing.
• 📚 A local school, PS239Q, is serving as a response center, and a nearby car service business is collecting community donations.
• 💔 Residents expressed the emotional toll of losing possessions and memories, with some finding strength in the small items that survived.

Building Owner's Loss

• 🏢 The owner of the building, which was passed down from his parents, described it as his life and stated he had no idea what to do next.

Fire Safety Urged

• ⚠️ The OEM commissioner urged New Yorkers to take precautions, emphasizing the importance of working smoke detectors, with the city offering assistance for installation.
• 🔍 The cause of the fire remains under investigation by fire marshals.