Queens Apartment Building Fire: 9 Injured in Stubborn Blaze Fueled by Thousands of Tires

Fire Erupts in Ridgewood Tire Shop

• 🚨 A massive, stubborn fire broke out early this morning in a tire shop in Ridgewood, Queens.
• 🚒 The fire, which began around 4 AM, quickly grew out of control due to thousands of tires fueling the flames.
• 💥 A portion of the ceiling collapsed, forcing firefighters to transition from an internal attack to an external attack using tower ladders.

Impact and Injuries

• 🏠 The fire spread from the ground-floor tire shop to the apartments above, affecting 10 units.
• 🚶 Residents managed to evacuate themselves and all made it out safely.
• 🏥 Nine people, including four firefighters, were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, some suffering minor burns.

Firefighting Challenges

• 💧 Firefighters initially used water and foam but struggled against the deep-seated blaze.
• ⚠️ The sheer volume of tires presented a significant challenge, described by the FDNY chief as a stubborn and deep-seated fire.
• 🔍 The cause of the fire is still unknown, and the shop was closed at the time of the incident.
• 🔥 Firefighters continue to monitor for hot spots, though they have gained the upper hand after several hours.