A fierce five-alarm blaze erupted in a historic Brooklyn warehouse overnight, injuring two New York firefighters as they battled the flames for almost six hours.
Over 250 members of the FDNY responded shortly before midnight on Wednesday to the 155-year-old Red Hook warehouse, which was unoccupied at the time.
According to Kevin Woods from FDNY Operations, the damage was significant. “The roof and the fourth floor have collapsed,” he stated during a press briefing.
Woods explained that the intense fire prompted firefighters to withdraw from the building at first, needing to attack it from the outside. “This is a major incident, using over 250 firefighters and EMS personnel. The fire isn’t under control yet, and we’ll keep applying water to it,” he said.
He further described the structure as “heavy wood,” noting that its construction materials facilitated the fire’s rapid spread. “The building was built in 1870, so it’s been around for over 150 years. With columns measuring at least 8 by 8 inches, the fire takes hold quickly,” Woods added.
The two injured firefighters reportedly sustained minor injuries.
This warehouse, which housed an artist’s studio, was set to host a public exhibition next month but was empty when the fire started, according to officials. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
