A massive fire tore through a Queens home Saturday morning, injuring at least 21 people, including a 78-year-old woman who was critically wounded.
The fire department received a call about the blaze at 9:52 a.m. on 41st Road near College Point Boulevard in Flushing. The fire escalated to a five-alarm incident by 10:40 a.m., according to an FDNY spokesman.
Fire officials stated the fire originated on the first floor of a nearly century-old, wood-frame house, which was part of a row of five buildings. When firefighters arrived, two buildings were already engulfed, and the inferno quickly spread to a third.
"These buildings in this row of five... they were built in 1930, so they're all wood. Wood-frame buildings," Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods said. "The walls are wood, the floors are wood, the roof is also made of wood, so fire travels very, very rapidly. Very difficult for us to get ahead of these fires and extinguish."
Over 250 fire and EMS members responded to the scene as the fire spread. At least one resident was rescued from the second floor of the building where the fire began.
Of the 21 injured, 17 were firefighters. Their injuries, which included heat exhaustion, smoke inhalation, and minor sprains, were not considered life-threatening. All victims were transported to local hospitals, along with the elderly woman in critical condition.
The damaged building displaced multiple residents, and the Red Cross was on site assisting affected families. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the fire marshal’s office.