Fire Causes Major Damage to Brooklyn Warehouse
A four-alarm fire broke out at a Brooklyn warehouse on Wednesday afternoon, leading to “significant damage” and affecting at least 25 businesses storing goods there, according to the FDNY.
The incident occurred around 12:40 p.m. at a Red Hook facility on Columbia Street, where refrigeration supplies, food, and various household goods are kept. Fire officials noted that upon arrival, they found roofs in several areas compromised. “A second alert will be issued very soon,” stated FDNY Secretary Lillian Bonsignore.
The fire initially impacted three storage bays, but it escalated, requiring the response of more than 200 firefighters as it reached four alarms. “Our engine companies have entered very aggressively and very intentionally,” FDNY Director of Operations Kevin Woods explained. The firefighters managed to halt further spread within the building.
Woods remarked that the fire inflicted “extreme damage” to the roof. Weather conditions, particularly bitter cold and strong winds, complicated efforts to control the blaze. “Weather was definitely a factor,” he said, adding that “winds carried the embers throughout this building and ignited multiple other bays.” He emphasized the dangers and physical demands of firefighting.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, but with 25 storage bays in the facility, it’s estimated that at least 25 businesses were hit hard. Bonsignore commended the firefighters for their effective work in managing the situation.
Interestingly, this fire originated in a staircase at the nearby Erie Basin Autopound, a large NYPD site that has previously experienced flames in both 2022 and 2024. Yet, police reported that the autopound itself was not impacted by this event.
This incident comes just about four months after another severe fire occurred at a historic warehouse on Van Brunt Street. In the recent warehouse fire, while the building housed an artist’s studio, it was empty at the time. However, two firefighters did sustain minor injuries while responding to the scene.
